Love On Wings

Desert Song

2012-02-04T13:14:00.000-06:00

One of my FB friends posted a verse from this song as her status and I have been singing it ever since!!

"There is a Faith poved of more worth than gold,

So refine me Lord through the flames..."

Enjoy...

You Gotta Have Friends

2012-02-01T09:21:00.000-06:00

I keep joking around that I am out of friends in the town where I live, that is the military life. You move some place new, you make new friends, those friends move and you make even more new friends, then those friends move, and you make more new friends, then it's your time to move and start some place new to make more new friends. But I am definitely not out of friends here, and nothing proved it more to me that this week when my whole family (besides me and my #1) was sick with a stomach bug.

I posted on FB how sick my family was, and complained about the never ending cleaning. I spared my single friends the details about projectile sick in my face or the diaper that defied all laws of science. I was feeling sorry for myself, and since I was in quarantine with my sick troops, I only had FB to gain my much needed advice and sympathy. After my post on Thursday about how, with my three sick family members, the water had been turned off for several hours at my house due to a main break down the street, I received text messages from all my local friends {the ones I so callously thought I was out of} offering to go shopping for me, to do disgusting pukey laundry for me, to bring me dinner, and on and on. I felt so loved, and I felt so ashamed. I am so sorry I ever said I was out of friends here, I have some very dear friends left and I will be sorry to leave them. I guess because I knew I was leaving I fell out of the practice of making new friends, which feels like a loss since that makes the number of friends I have left dwindle with every new round of moves.

I feel so blessed for this military life, to meet and befriend, and love so many amazing women. I know that even though we may all move apart from one another, we can always be friends and we will always support one another, and there will always be an amazing bond between those of us who love a man in uniform.
In Love,

Boho Chic headband tutorial

2012-01-28T07:35:00.000-06:00

If you remember from my "New Wardrobe" post, I am trying out a new style, Boho Chic. I kind of sort of already have all the elements for said style I just have to put them together/make them/find them in a thrift store since I am claiming my new style sans the actually buying of new things.
I think this will be really good for me also since it has been a long long time since I lived within an hour plus of Target and I may just go absolutely completely crazy there if I didn't have this little challenge to real me in.
I am committing to only make or thrift my way to this new wardrobe throughout the course of 2012, the only exception will be for things that I could not possible make or feel comfortable wearing used {for example tights or nursing cami's, etc...}.
That being said I found some cute headbands at, where else, Walmart that I thought I could probably make for myself and for much much cheaper...

The first headband I made from suede cord, I actually used every color to make its own head band.

#1 I cut each string into 3 equal pieces {about 40"}

#2 I looped the end and tied a slip knot

#3 I safety pinned this end to a pillow and went to braiding my strings

#4 I tied off the end with a regular knot and cut off any excess; feed this end through your slip knot and place around your head. Pull until comfortable and tighten slip knot loop to hold head band in place.

I am kind of going back and forth on keeping the tail piece of these head bands, it seems a little long, but if I leave it I can use them for bracelets too...

What do you think?

Have a wonderful Thursday!!!
In Love,

SO. MUCH. LAUNDRY.

2012-01-25T12:06:00.003-06:00

That was my FB post yesterday and I got quite the healthy response from fellow Mama's whose laundry was also over taking their lives. So, I am going to share my dirty little secret for doing laundry...

I don't fold my children's clothes

Here is the thing, I hang up almost all t-shirts and dresses {even if I didn't I am pretty sure I still wouldn't fold} and what is left for the drawers is just PJ's and pants; drawers that my children are fascinated by and insist on rifling through constantly unfolding whatever might have been folded in the first place.

Here is what laundry used to look like when we folded...

This is 3-4 days worth of laundry since I wash clothes about 2 times a week.

Now I have 3 little baskets (and 2 big baskets) that I use to sort clothes once they are clean. I sit and watch TV and just toss clean clothes into their owners designated basket {I do turn everything right side out}. Then when I go to put them away I separate and toss into drawers or on a hanger. Soooo much nicer, I can't even tell you how much nicer.

I do fold my own clothes when I separate and put away, and when my kids are old enough to put away their own laundry I will teach them to fold. I also make my hubby fold and put away his own laundry for the most part {unless I happen to have time or the energy}. I do think he far prefers folding his own clothes to the nights twice a week when he thought he was sitting down to a relaxing night of TV watching only to be ambushed with 4 loads of laundry to fold.

So there you have it folks, the secrets out, stop folding your kids laundry and enjoy life again.

Hope you are having a spectacular week!!

In Love,

You ARE Outrageously LOVED

2012-01-22T18:43:00.000-06:00

Always remember there is ONE who LOVES you, NO MATTER WHAT

Absolutely Amazing Word, from Graham Cooke on God's perfect love, You MUST MUST watch this!!

In Love,

New Year New Wardrobe

2012-01-20T13:57:00.000-06:00

I know that 4 pregnancies in 5 years has not only taken its toll on my body, but my wardrobe as well. I have clothes that I have not worn in 5 years because that is the last time they fit {and probably the last time they were in style}. I also have maternity clothes, so generously given to me by fellow mothers, that kind of make me cringe to look at. Yet I wear them because I refuse to buy new maternity clothes for my last* pregnancy. I am also plagued by the fact I have lived in a very small town the last four years and my shopping options have been severely limited, I am pretty sure a 30 year old mother of 3 purchasing a shirt from the Miley Cyrus collection at Walmart is just sad. All of this being said, and going along with my priority post of the New Year, I am giving my wardrobe a mini makeover!

Unfortunately I have no money for a real makeover, but that makes things ever more exciting and creative. I am taking a pledge to only thrift or make my clothing in the year 2012, and to do so with more style than I have had in years. Not only is this going to pertain to my wardrobe but to much of my new home furnishings as well, but we can talk more about that later...

Here is a link to my new wardrobe inspiration on pintrest, boho chic. It's really perfect for me, first off it's a style I L.O.V.E., the silhouettes are simple to sew {since I am pretty much a novice}, and vintage pieces are a necessity {hence the thrifting}. It also doesn't hurt that all of the billowy beauty will hide a post 4 baby belly pretty well until I get thing in that department back in working order.

My first official refashion of this year...
Maternity jeans made maternity skinny jeans, so I can wear all my cute tall boots. I used this tutorial by homemade ginger and they came out great. I think I will make another pair.

My first from scratch fashion piece of this year...
a Maxi Skirt, fits perfect now and I can take it in after this baby comes without loosing its beauty. Inspired by this skirt I found on Etsy,

I literally made this using one yard of green linen "like" fabric from JoAnn's. I think I will make another and do a little tutorial, I pretty much love this.

In Love,

*I say last pregnancy because that is my plan, but you never know what God's plan might be :)

My 4yo's favorite song

2012-01-18T14:17:00.000-06:00

First Time Mommy

2012-01-16T09:55:00.045-06:00

My sister just had her first baby and it got me thinking, remembering back to being a first time mom. I remember holding that little sweet baby waiting for the "super powers of mommy love" to overcome me. I just kept waiting and waiting, nothing happened. I loved him in that, "I know your my baby and I should love you" sort of way, but I wasn't sure that I could lift a car off of him or any of those super power mommy things that you hear about. I was exhausted, I felt consumed with breastfeeding and diaper changing. I had this adorable little bundle that just kept taking and taking, his unbelievable dependence on me was overwhelming and suffocating.

I felt like a failure, a terrible mother. I was just getting through each day as it came, keeping myself together on hope and a prayer. And then one day it came, God answered my prayers. I was giving my baby a bath and as I splashed the water around him, he looked up at me and smiled. A huge just for mommy smile, not because he needed me, but because he loved me. Something inside of me broke and was healed all at the same moment, "Super Powers of Mommy Love!" After I got my sweet son to bed I ran to my bedroom and wrote him this letter...

September 9, 2007
My Son,
I wish I was one of those mothers who keeps a journal so you would know about every day of your life, but I am so sorry that I am not.
Today, my love, is the day you became my son! Before this point all I feel I have been to you is what your father affectionately calls your "chocolate bunny" today I feel I became your mommy. You looked at me tonight and I knew, I knew you loved me, and I felt such a rush of love for you that I thought it might sweep me away. I will do anything for you, gladly lay down my life so you could live. I wish that never will you have pain, though I know you will hurt. That you never will be sad, though I know you will cry. That you may never stray, though I know you have to find your own path. Please know that hundreds of days will pass between us before you read these words and in each of those days my love will have grown. From the depths of my soul I love you my son, I only love God as much. You are the precious gift that He has given to me, He knit you together in my womb and joined us with a bond that can never be broken. I will love you with every breath of my life now and forever. You are my first born, you are my son, and I am your mother. I will always be with you, for we are eternal. Always remember my love and hide it in your heart.
Love,
Mommy

How amazing that moment was, and how it has sustained me through all these years. With each new baby I have had, I remembered that moment and instantly my super mommy love has been extended to the precious newborn in my arms. I am asked often which transition is hardest, one to two kids, two to three? The answer is zero to one kids is the hardest, becoming a mommy for the first time is THE HARDEST and the absolute most rewarding. Just remember if you are out there suffering in silence wondering where your super human mommy love is hiding, it might just be behind your babies next smile. Just keep praying, keep waiting, and most importantly keep loving with what you have because even if it doesn't feel like much it is more than enough.

In Love,

Saturday Dance Party

2012-01-14T09:01:00.001-06:00

Hope you have a great weekend friends!
Enjoy the dance party {please ignore the dinosaur sounds my three year old is making, in a world of his own}.

Next week will be full of sewing inspiration and links to fabulous tutorials, I just have to channel my inner plus sized model for the pictures. *wink*

In Love,

Here is the thing...

2012-01-11T12:15:00.001-06:00

Long time, no blog.
Here is the thing, I tried to be regimented, I tried to do as other bloggers and have catchy titles with each post corresponding with the day of the week. I failed, it wasn't me. I gained a few followers, lost a few. Overall, not worth the stress.

I kind of secretly hoped I would blow up on the blogosphere and have a million followers. I could get paid to write and create, then my hubby would have to let me because it was my official J-O-B. But it turns out, this is not the time or the season of my life for a job {other than the one God has already blessed me with}. My children are still so small, and our lives so full, why do I feel the need to do more, to be more? I have no idea.
I love being a mom, I feel it's what God meant for me, and it deserves all my dedication. However, I will not loose myself or my dreams to this season of my life. I will continue to write and I will continue to create, but I will refuse to let those things come before what truly matters, my family.
So here is what you can expect from me...
I will write when I feel inspired
I will create when I can
And I will follow my heart in all things.

This year I am dedicating myself to quiet time with God, I am making the commitment to put, myself first {occasionally}, and I would love love love the opportunity to help other mamas like me.

What you can expect to see very soon...

A proverb a day, perhaps.

My challenge to make/thrift my way to a new wardrobe in 2012.

And some "life in general" stories to make you giggle.

In Love,

Priorities

2012-01-05T14:21:00.001-06:00

I personally don't really care for resolutions, I would like to think I live life in a way that allows room for growth at all times. Let's be honest though, as a mother of soon to be four children under the age of 5 the chaos constantly surrounding me leaves little room for new growth {unless of course it's a new baby in my belly}. So this year I am jumping on the band wagon and making a resolution.

I am going to become a priority for me.

I have come to realize that all day every day I am the absolute lowest on my own priority list, I would love to take a shower but the boys want to play puzzles, I am starving to death but I should feed the kids and my hubby first, I would love to take some time to write and create but the house needs cleaning, I really need some quiet time with God but the laundry needs folding. Is that familiar to anyone else?

My hair is always styled one of three ways, wet, ponytail, hat. When my family goes to church the children are polished till they shine, my husband smells terrific and is always tucked in, I have wet hair and put my makeup on in the car. Finally one day I asked my husband, "why do I always feel so disheveled?" His answer was, "because you don't make yourself a priority" and he is right.

If I don't make myself a priority, who will?

seriously, first time I have blown dry and styled my hair in recent memory, just for a McDonald's play date today!!

This is just as important for my family as it is for me. If I loose self confidence because I never take the time to exercise, shower, or look pretty, my husband looses out on a wife who wants to be touched or feel loved. If I feed everyone else before myself, I feel bitter and loose my servants heart {not to mention the poor babe depending on me for nourishment}. If I miss out on my quiet time with God, I miss out on His grace and the grace or patience I have to extend to others is missing too. That means more yelling and frustration, more stress and bad decisions all the way around. If I never sit down to write or create, I miss out on what makes me Amber, I become a shell or a drone just walking around cleaning up the same things over and over in the mass chaos that is my home.

Are you a priority to you? If not, how might that be effecting everyone around you? Care to join me in this New Years Resolution, I would love to have you along for the ride :)

Where I have been having my {very much needed} quiet time

In Love,

THREE YEARS OLD

2012-01-03T16:39:00.000-06:00

Ahh, the three year old. That curious and unpredictable creature that can leave you trembling in furry or a fit of giggles. Mood changes and emotional roller coaster rides all before breakfast can leave any casual observer shaking their heads in wonder and amazement. I have often said I would gladly send a three year old away for the year and take them back when they turn four, but that's not really true. Because while three years old is a painfully difficult age, it is equally magical. When your child is not yet a preschooler but no longer a toddler, when their desire to do all and be all is far greater than their ability, every day is an adventure and every moment precious.

My own sweet three year old likes to hold my face in his chubby little hands, sometimes it's to say "mama, I love you so much more!" and other times it's to look deep in my eyes and spit. He bestowed his undying love upon my little sister the other day, and while she sat basking in the sweet glow of love from a three year old, he throat punched her.

He is also convinced that since I have a new baby growing in my belly, he does too. He love to show us all his new baby and compare his belly to mine. Just last night as we were comparing our bellies and he pointed out that he did not have crayon on his belly like I did, it only took a second for me to realize he was speaking to my stretch marks. How three-year-olds can break their mama's hearts with such innocence!!

While our three year old brings a chaotic and intense dynamic to our little family, his love and innocence, his character and personality make me so excited to see the four year old he will be in 2012!!
In Love,

Year End

2011-12-27T18:51:00.000-06:00

Well I took a little vacation, no blogs at all for the last week or so!

I cuddled and cherished my sweet little family, felt our new baby move for the first time, contemplated life with 4 babies in 5 years, reflected on God's amazing and perfect love, and stayed mostly in my pajamas.

This week got me thinking about all of the things that have happened this year, all the blessings, all the challenges. Things that brought me to tears and to my knees. The things that filled my heart so big I thought it would burst. Since these things are too many to count, let alone write about, I thought I would just share a few...

All my kids got one year older *sniff*...

One Year Old

Four Years Old

Three Years Old

My sweet #3 went from baby to toddler

Sweet Baby

Naughty Toddler

We received a diagnosis for #2, to explain the headaches he complained of constantly. My son has a brain malformation called Chiari. You can read more about that here. To finally have a diagnosis and a reason for the headaches {and, it turns out, several other little quirks he has} was such a relief. To find out that it was a disease that is sometimes curable {with surgery} and to receive such excellent and amazing care so far, has been a blessing as well. As long as God holds my baby in His hands, as I know He does every day, all is well.

My little Super Man enjoying a treat after his first MRI

I turned 30, and my sweet husband surprised me with a park celebration with this crew!

I started selling my line of baby clothes in three different stores {ended up being a little too much for this Mama to handle, but it was fun while it lasted!}

#1 Graduated from Preschool, started PreK, and next year it's Kindergarten!!!! **deep breaths, deep breaths**

Started this little blog, what an incredible learning experiance.

One of the greatest friends I have ever known moved away. But in the military you never know where we might live together again!

My BFF had her first baby and I got to visit for a few days and help her work out some of the kinks. One of the passions of my heart is helping new mamas and helping my Best Friend was truly incredible!

Spent the summer making clothes for myself, trying to figure out my style. Also spent the summer NOT pregnant and NOT nursing for the first time since 2006. It was deffinitly a summer of self discovery.

One of the first tops I made myself

And here is the BIG one, got pregnant with our #4. This one has been my most difficult pregnancy, by far. I was basically an emotional and physical wreck in my first trimester, but now {thanks to the Grace of God} I am back on track to being the Mama I know I was ment to be.

And that's it, well clearly not all of it, but I figured if I went on much more no one would be reading by this point!

Thank you all for all of the support you have offered me this year, I love reading comments, e-mails, and FB messages. You all make something I love to do feel like it's worth doing. I pray that when you reflect on this year your memories bring more joy than pain and I pray that in the year ahead God blesses you beyond all you can ask or imagine.

Thanks for reading!

In Love,

Mary, Did You Know???

2011-12-16T09:39:00.000-06:00

As many of you know I have spent the last 4+ years pregnant or nursing new babies {I did take 3 months off this summer, it was The Summer of Amber! as I liked to call it}. It seems that for 3 of these years {including this one} I am pregnant during Christmas and one year I had a newborn. Now you know the background you can figure why this song just cuts me to the quick, it will leave me bawling so hard in the car that I have to pull over. So if you see a sap on the side of the road tissues in hand, that's me.

Do you think that Mary knew? Did she know what God had planned for their Son? She knew He would be something great, but did she know what He would endure? What would it be like to rock your Savior to sleep at night? To nurse Him and change Him? Could she have possibly known that to atone for her sins, to make her soul clean, her blameless and perfect son would die on a cross?

God knew, He knew all of these things and made them so. Remember this season what we are celebrating, what God gave to us in His Son Jesus. He gave us redemption and the greatest most sacrificial gift of all, His only Son.

And if you are a mother, remember Mary, remember that God chose her to love and teach, to nurture and play with His only son. She never knew what the final outcome would be, but she chose fierce and loyal LOVE above all else.

None of us know what the outcome for our Children will be, but they are gifts from God and while we have them it is our privilege to LOVE them fiercely and loyally, just as Mary did so long ago.

Hope You are Having a Wonderful Christmas Season!
In Love,

It's a pintrest christmas

2011-12-12T14:16:00.000-06:00

So, my original plan for this post was the stocking I am making for my sweet niece, but it's not finished yet. So instead I thought I would share some DIY genius that I found on pintrest.
The Most Beautiful Time of the Year
Enjoy my friends.
In Love,

Oh Christmas, How I love you!

2011-12-10T16:48:00.001-06:00

decorating the Christmas tree!

and then getting trapped under the table

Our Family Christmas Tree 2011

One of the things that I have loved best about our time here, is the traditions we started. Every year, the first Sunday of the year, we go to the Christmas Parade. I am pretty sure there is nothing like it anywhere else!!

The High School band

Fire Truck

Tractors

the ROTC

The North Pole Motorcycle Club

2 of my loves

The kids collecting candy after each float
{That's right, I live in a town where they still throw candy out into a crowd of children and let them run into the street for it, the good old days }

our crew watching the parade go by

Here come all the cool cars

All the cowboys and cowgirls

Bet you can't guess who they see coming...

Santa!!!

Hope you all are enjoying the Holidays with tons of traditions and memories made.

In Love,

confession

2011-12-07T11:04:00.000-06:00

I am pregnant with my fourth baby, and the only place I have made it public is here.

I have no idea why!!

Usually I tell people right after my first trip to the doctor, if you are my close friend or family you find out the night I pee on that stick.

But not this time...

At first it was because I knew this was probably my last so I wanted to do something super special. I found out while my in-laws and my mom and her hubby were visiting so I prepared to take a picture of everyone and instead of "say cheese" I said "say Amber's pregnant again!"

I love my mom's face here! It's like she is the only one who heard me

I sent a text out to sisters, brothers, my dad and my grandparents with #3 in a ghetto onsie I wrote "Big Sister" on {I could not find a Big Sister shirt anywhere!}, that was pretty much an epic fail since only 50% of them actually understood it.

Then I ran out of steam, I thought I would send everyone else a pic of babies first ultrasound. That is a funny story since at the time of the ultrasound I was positive I was 8-9 weeks preggo. It turns out I was only 6 1/2 weeks pregnant, the picture is of a tiny little pea, and I had gained 10 pounds and could no longer fit in my jeans. I cried.

That is so selfish and ungrateful, I know. People all around me are miscarrying, or facing infertility, and here I am upset about how my body looks {and the fact I was already sick and facing an extra 2 weeks of first trimester, I think that's what pushed me over the edge}. I just see the looks on peoples faces when I say how pregnant I am.
{and here is a little side note, NEVER EVER NOT EVER should you ask a women if she is pregnant with twins, NEVER}

Which brings me here, I have more or less been in hiding. I cannot believe that this is what I look like 13 weeks pregnant, its borderline absurd! But I have decided to stop being selfish, to stop only caring about my appearance this is my grand announcement/confession...

My name is Amber, I am having 4 babies in 5 years, and I am 13 weeks pregnant.

There that feels good, its out there. Thanks for sticking with me through the first trimester, I was basically a disaster and I am just starting to come out of it. I am trying to re-connect with my friends, with my family, with myself. I think things are looking up! I am beyond thankful that God has chosen to bless me with this baby, with this pregnancy. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for my sweet family of six.
Thank you for reading,
In Love,

silhouettes

2011-12-05T12:24:00.001-06:00

Happy Made Monday Friends!!!
So here is something that would make a pretty awesome and original gift but I have no idea where you could buy it, so you will just have to make it yourself, or settle for similar but less unique.
So here it is...

I made this as a gift for a friend, its a reverse silhouette of her little boy
{I actually stole this pic of him off of her FB page so she wouldn't suspect *wink*}

You have 2 choices here, you can go the original artist route or you can go the upcycle queen route {I generally choose the later}

If you are an original artist then you need...
1 canvas
spray paint (probably 2 colors)
plastic stencil sheets {like we used here}
picture of subjects profile

If you are an upcycle queen
you need a canvas or frame to wrap your fabric around
fabric {I used old t-shirts}
spray paint
plastic stencil sheets OR freezer paper
picture of subjects profile

Steps
Upload your subjects profile picture to www.picnik.com {probably the single most awesome photo editing site + its free}
and select effects, then select pencil sketch and move the strength button thingy {technical term} all the way to the right {200%} and print on regular paper. If the picture is too small then save it to your computer and open it back up in Microsoft Word where you can crop and enlarge the picture to the size you need.

Trace around your subjects profile with a black sharpie so that it really stands out from the rest of the picture you just printed out.

Then lay your plastic stencil sheet or freezer paper {freezer paper will only work on fabric, check out an excellent tutorial on freezer paper stenciling here} over the picture and again trace the subjects profile this time onto freezer paper or stencil sheet.

Cut out profile, remember we are reversing the image so you need to keep the actual profile in tact and don't worry about the rest of your sheet.

If you use fabric continue here... If you use a canvas scroll down...

Fabric
Choose the color and the fabric type you would like to use {I like old t-shirts} and cut a square large enough to wrap around your frame. Remember too big is much better than too little.

Center your profile {if using freezer paper iron down making sure the shiny side is on the fabric}

You need to decide at this point if you need any additional dimension, I used lace to frame this black profile.

Choose your paint color, if you are using a black shirt you can use bleach like I did here. It gives a new and unique look every time.

Spray directly down on your shirt making sure to keep your stencil in place {a little spray of elmers craft glue on the back of the plastic stencil will hold it nicely for a short while but remove it promptly!} and once you are happy with your coverage remove profile stencil and any of your extras to reveal your masterpiece!

Allow the paint (or bleach) to dry fully before wrapping your fabric around the frame and use a little hot glue on the back to keep it in place. Cut off any excess fabric. And you, my friend, are finished!

Canvas
Choose the color background you want for your art work, and remember the color you choose will be the color of the actual silhouette. Then spray the canvas to cover completely and let dry.

Center your profile stencil on the canvas and decided now if you want to add any extra dimension, like in this profile I added some lace. Now secure your profile and any extras to the canvas using a little craft glue {I use elmers}. Spray your canvas with your second color choice from above, spraying straight down, when you have the coverage you desire remove the stencil and extras immediately.

Allow your paint to dry and give yourself a pat on the back, good job!

Have fun with this friends, the fabric and color combos available to you are endless, but Christmas is only a few weeks away!!!

In Love,

Warrior Boys

2011-12-02T11:50:00.001-06:00

Have I ever mentioned how thankful I am to be the mother of warrior boys?

I stinkin love it!!

Now, if only they would slow down once and awhile so this Mama could get a nap. That I would be really super thankful for *wink*

Have a great weekend!

In Love,

Stellar Kart - You Never Let Go

2011-11-30T10:16:00.000-06:00

So, I'm grocery shopping through walmart, with only my #2 with me.
{the mister and I have a rule that if we are both home and one of us leaves to run errands we must take one child with us, and generally it's #2 since he is 3 years old and by far the biggest instigator of his siblings!}
It is amazing how each one of my children has such a drastically different personality when they are without their brother or sister. #2 just sat in the cart, snuggling my arm, playing with my fingers, being a sweet doll baby. Then he started singing this song, just the chores over and over again. I'm not gonna lie, I teared up a bit. I love that we only listen to Christian music, I love that these words are forever imprinted on my son's heart. No matter how he rebels, no matter the kind of music he chooses to listed to as he gets older, these songs and these words are part of who he is, forever. Enjoy the truth of these sweet words today my friends!!
In Love,

sick day

2011-11-29T13:45:00.001-06:00

Is that the saddest thing you have ever seen? #3 is sick which makes for one very sleepy, unproductive, snot covered mama.

Here is to you my friend, hoping your family is well, and you are having a fantastic Tuesday.

In Love,

Time to Paint Anyone??

2011-11-28T16:54:00.002-06:00

In honor of the month of December, every made Monday will have some hand made gift ideas/tuts for you Crafty McCrafterson's out there, plus some links to where you can buy something similar, plus as an extra little bonus if you would like me to make a replication of something for you just shoot me an e-mail {loveonwings.newberry@gmail.com} and we can work something out.

So while I love crafting and sewing and general creativity, I am NOT an artist, I cannot draw or paint an object just by looking at it. People who can do that blow my mind!!! I hardly trust myself to draw a decent heart. So when I saw these prints at this etsy shop, I instantly had an idea for a painting, but no real idea how to see it through. I decided to do some google image searching, and I figured it out, the answer STENCILS!!
I searched Google Images to find the perfect silhouettes, and cut the stencils myself. Now you can find plastic sheets to cut your stencils from at any craft store, or if you live in teeny tiny town like me you can go to Walmart too. I printed off my google finds and placed them under the plastic and traced them with a sharpie, then I cut out my design using tiny scissors and an exacto knife.

Now it's time to prepare your canvas, a 12 x 12 canvas fits a piece of Scrap book paper perfectly or 12 x 24 fits 2 pieces nicely. Find the paper you want as a background, nothing too busy or colorful, you want your painting to stand out, and modge podge it to your canvas. I usually layer the modge podge on with a paintbrush on the canvas first, then place the paper, and modge podge on top of that. Wait for your canvas to dry and add another layer of the modge podge {how many times can I write the word modge podge?!}, wait for that to dry as well. Your paper will probably wrinkle or bubble a bit, if it does you can use your fingers to rub them out while the canvas is still wet, or you can leave them to add dimension and texture.

You can also choose to paint your canvas like I did here...

I wrapped pieces of lace around the canvas and spray painted the whole thing {then removed the lace}, I love the way it added such interest behind the painting. I think it would look equally awesome if you used some stamps like these ones.

After everything is dry, put your stencil on the canvas, use a flat brush and paint all around the edge of your stencil, pulling from the edge inward {or use a marker or paint pen in the same color you will be painting in to trace the stencil}. Once you have your outline, fill it in, yea!!!!

Once the paint is dry, you can use a paint pen to add your initials and heart. If you want to add a nest with baby birds now you can, I actually free handed these. Seriously if I can do it you can do it!!

Done!! Have Fun Friends!

In Love,

Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T08:16:00.001-06:00

I can't believe it's here!!!
Thanksgiving!

This Means, the end of November.

This Means, the end of my first trimester.

This Means, my very best friend and her sweet new family coming to visit me in OK for the last time.

This Means, we are within 90 days of moving to Colorado.

This Means, amazing food, fellowship, and love shared with those who we may have just met but we love like family just the same {because that's how we do holidays in the military}.

This Means, we spend time to reflect on what we are thankful for as individuals and as a family.

What Does Thanksgiving Mean for You?

Here are a few things I am thankful for...

The Love Of My Husband

believe me, it's not easy for him right now!!

Footie Pajamas and Morning Hair

The Wheels On The Bus

Lovies That Will Be Lifelong Companions

And the list goes on and on and on and on...
Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving My Friends!!
In Love,

Flyleaf ~ All Around Me

2011-11-17T12:25:00.001-06:00

I know I am a day late (and definitely a dollar short)
here is one of my all time favorite songs for our worship Wednesday
enjoy my friends
In Love,

Mommy S.O.S.

2011-11-15T06:00:00.005-06:00

This is a picture of my 18month old daughter, eating pizza, in my bed, at midnight. I can already feel the judgment, you think I am a terrible mother, I know.

Here is the deal, for the past 3 weeks this little booger has woken up every night around 11:30 or midnight. We race in to get her so she won't wake her brothers up, and then spend the next 30 minutes trying desperately to get her to stop crying. Generally she cries and points around the house to the places she wants you to carry her, make a wrong turn and her cries turn into shrieks. She always leads me

{because she, of course, needs mommy for these adventures; the very sight of her Daddy can get the shrieking started}

to a variety of different places, this particular night she took me to the kitchen, then to the fridge, where I attempted to give her yogurt and an apple before she squirmed out of my arms and dove into the pizza box.

She then insisted I pick her up, she pointed her way back to my bedroom where she again squirmed out of my arms and crawled to her Daddy to resume eating her pizza there on his chest.

You already know what I think about the third babies, they are spoiled rotten! I let my fear of her waking the boys turn me into the kind of mom who will literally give into ANYTHING to get her to stop crying. This pregnancy thing isn't helping either, this morning when she woke up at 5:30am I let her get a muffin and eat that in my bed on my chest {a lemon poppy seed muffin with a glazed top, for an especially sticky and crumby kind of awesome}.

Not every midnight adventure ends in the need for food {in fact it rarely does, but those make the best stories}. Sometimes she insists on going out in the backyard to swing on the swing set, sometimes she just wants to look out a window, and still other times she leads me right back to her bedroom and into her bed.

WHAT DO I DO!? I tried to let her cry longer, and if the boys woke up they did. She cried for 35 minutes without even a little break before I went in to get her. The plus side of that was she was so exhausted by screaming her lungs out that she was more than happy to head straight to our room and snuggle in bed, no house tours that night.

I know that Tuesdays I generally offer tips, not today, today I am sharing my battle. I have a few more tricks up my sleeve to try, I will let you know if they work. Until then, pray for me, because I am one tired Mama!

In Love,

My House

2011-11-14T10:59:00.001-06:00

Today is "Made Monday" where I have fun showing off things I (or any of my ridiculously talented friends) have made. Today I think I am going to show off my newly listed (for sale, that is) house. I have made this house a home for the past 3 years, all my babies have learned to walk here and talk here, this place will always have such a special spot in my heart. The hubs and I worked really hard on this house as well, updating it and fixing it when it broke. More recently we have been working to make this house less our home and more the perfect home for the family coming to live here next. We finished projects we always said we would do and I finally sewed curtains for my boys room, we took down alot of the nicknacks and pictures that where just us, and what we have left is a hybrid. Half "home" half "house" it looks beautiful and I am still so proud of it, but there is just a little less of my heart here and I know as soon as that SOLD sign goes up in the yard this home will be just a sweet memory as we move on to the next place where I will bring baby #4 home from the hospital and the boys will learn to ride thier bikes, and we will be able to have family (grandparents and aunts and cousins) over for Sunday dinner. I am so excited about where we are going, and I am so very proud of what we are leaving behind, because it is beautiful...

This is what you see when you walk in the door, the stripes are actually beautifully textured wall paper.

The front room, we actually had baby gates up until recently so the kids couldn't get in here. Those tables are just begging for a trip to the Emergancy Room!!

Our main living area, I am actually standing on the fireplace to tak this pic. What a task it was trying to fugure out a room that had a HUGE TV on one side and a FP on the other, but this has worked out beautifully!

My coffee nook that looks over the playroom, PERFECT for play dates

The play room is perfection, kids can run in and out to the backyard, the room is a main part of the house, but down just 3 little stairs so I can close it off if I want to. I love that the playroom can be a mess but I still feel like my house is clean :)

The office is next to the coffee nook and also overlooks the playroom, this is how I get any blogging or other work done!

My sewing/craft room also attatched to the playroom. It used to be the laundry room but we moved the washer and dryer to the garage so I could have my own space, this is just half of it, it is a very long and narrow room but it suits my needs wonderfully.

The kitchen is my hubby's baby, he and some friends did all the work themselves. Wanna see a before?

AHHHHH, I can't even believe I let him buy this house!!

Sweet Baby girl nursery. It was pink when we moved in and we had every intention to paint it but never got around to it, then we had a baby girl and it was perfect.

The boys room (now with out changing table). Do you love the curtains it took me 3 years to sew?

That is it my friends, just a little tour of the home that we have lived in and loved in for the past 3 years. A little sad to leave, but oh so excited to see what God has in store for us next!!!

Veterans day

2011-11-11T11:31:00.000-06:00

It's veterans day, so I have my own personal veteran home with me and I will keep this short and sweet.
Here in America we are beyond blessed to have men and women willing to fight for not only the rights of those living in America, but the basic human rights for souls all over the planet. For the past 235 years countless men and women have laid down their lives in the name of freedom, and they continue to do so this very day. Never have I understood this more or truly appreciated the importance of this day like I do now that I am married to the military. Now I understand the sacrifices made, the births of babies that are missed, the women who are left with their small babies who have to play the role of nurturer, disciplinarian, and handy man. I know and appreciate what it is to go to sleep lonely, to worry, to square your shoulders and march forward {obstacles that face both the solider and their spouse}.
So today, just like every day in my house, we are thankful for the veteran. We appreciate the sacrifices they have made and continue to make. We promise to love and support their families back home, to let them know their sacrifices are noticed and appreciated as well.
I am personally grateful for the amazing experiences the military has given me. The friends that I have made that have become more like sisters, it takes a very special kind of woman to marry into the military. Those special women will take care of all my children with 2 minutes notice, they will bring me a meal unannounced just because, they will call during their one and only free minute in the day to see how I am. These are the kind of men and women that make is country great, they are selfless and honorable and I am so proud to call them my friends and family.
Happy Veterans Day Friends.

In Love,

Come thou fount of every blessing ~ David Crowder Band

2011-11-09T10:00:00.001-06:00

Do, you ever just wake up wanting to hear a song? I wanted this song so badly this morning! In my head it should always be sung by Martin and Jeanne, the worship leaders from my church in SC, the way they sang this song always brought me to my knees. David Crowder will do for this morning though, I have had it on repeat for an hour!
Enjoy!!

In Love,

Disconnected

2011-11-08T09:47:00.002-06:00

Do you ever go through a season in your life where you are just disconnected? It seems that it has happened to me several times in the past year and I just can't get past it. Every time I pick up the phone all I hear is a busy signal.

Right now it seems as though I have excuses for it, like never before. I am in my first trimester of pregnancy and feel generally less than human at any given time. I also appear to be about 2 months further along than I actually am, which is semi normal for me but for some reason this time I am feeling self-conscience about it. I don't feel pretty, just yuck. Do you ever feel that way? Top to bottom gross? Even my toes are ugly right now. I only go in public when absolutely necessary and as far as visiting with friends, forget about it.

One of my dearest friends {who now lives in FL} called to tell me that my silence was deafening and she was praying for me. I love that I have friends like that, who know me from even a million miles away, but have I called her back? no. My very best friend called me yesterday and the only reason I answered is because my hubs got up and got the phone for me. I don't feel like talking or visiting, I don't want to dump my blahs on my friends.

I am not feeling the super love right now, I give what little I can muster up to my children, then there is nothing left over for my husband or my friends, just nothing. Hubby said it is like I am not even mentally aware of my surroundings, like I have just checked out. That is because by the time he gets home from work, I have.

So there, are you depressed yet? You thought this blog was all encouragement and inspiration and I just draped a big old wet towel over that light. What is up with that?!

Here's the deal... I ~~said~~ wrote it, I put it out there. I was raw and real and I am letting you know the place I am coming from. BUT there is hope...

When I write it down when I see it in black and white I know what's missing, I know why my love cord has come unplugged. In all of this the only one praying is my friend in FL {and definitely my husband, who's commitment to the Lord right now is the strongest I have ever seen it, probably the main reason he is putting up with me right now}. I am not praying. I barley have anything to give to my children, nothing to my husband, nothing to my friends, and nothing to God. Now isn't that messed up? How can I go from a daily devotion to nothing, from being in the Word to barley glancing at the pages.

SO, I am recommitting, as I have had to do so many times in my life, to reading God's word. To giving Him my first and best and trusting that He will give me what I need to fill the precious people He has blessed my life with. I want to get connected.

I am writing it here, I am writing it on my heart, I am committing to it in my head. If I want to feel better, if I want to be better, if I want to live my life to the full and love to the depths then I need to start with Him.

That's the amazing and wonderful thing about God, He always gives you a do over. No matter how you neglect Him, no matter how far you try to push Him away. God always forgives, He always loves, and He always takes you back.
{I hope that I can say the same for all of my neglected friends and family}

I am starting today, here, with this verse...
Psalm 63:1-5
O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
² I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
³ Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
⁵ You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.

Have a wonderful day, I plan to!
In Love,

Three Years Old

2011-11-07T13:08:00.001-06:00

Well I have been absent for a little more than a week now. Between first trimester yuck and trying to put my house on the market, I haven't even been on the internet. No blogging, but more noticeably no encouragement, so now I am coming back {to save my own sanity} with a post about my sweet sweet #2 who turns three years old today.

We had a birthday party for him yesterday that was pretty stinkin awesome if I do say so myself, and the greatest part was it took little to no craftiness from me!!
My kids always surprise me when I ask what they want for birthdays. This year, randomly, #2 wanted to have a firetruck birthday. What to do? What to do?

Dress #1 and #2 up as firemen, obviously. What else?

So I called a local fire station and asked, "what could you do for my 3 year old's birthday party?" What could be the harm in asking, the worst they could say is nothing. But they didn't say nothing, they said bring them on down, they can't actually party here but we can show them a truck and let them see the uniforms and spray the hoses. Perfect...

a pic of all of us, a miracle!!

Afterwords we headed back to the house for pizza and this beautiful cake...

Isn't it AMAZING?!! My friend Malin made it, she just makes cakes for fun, just because. She blows my mind!

This morning I woke up, as I do EVERY morning, to his sweet #2 face peeking up over the top of my bed. He always waits until I open my eyes before he scrambles up to cuddle in with me. We snuggled and cuddled and I kissed his chubby cheeks while he played with my hair, just like every morning. But this morning was different because now he is three and another year has gone washing over me like a title wave, so as I catch my breath here are the incredible things I have learned about my sweet #2 this year.

He has a way of showing affection way beyond his years, the way he holds your face when he gives a kiss or the way he closes his eyes when he leans against me, like he is trying to soak me in. Oh I could go on and on about the sweet sweet ways this boy melts his Mama!!!

He also has a dark side... when he clotheslines his baby sister just because he happens to be walking by her. The way he runs up to his brother, punches him in the gut, then wails and cries throwing himself on the ground when he gets punched back. He is destructive beyond imagination, and cannot stand pillows on couches or toys in bins. He is so difficult to discipline! When he throws his food on the floor or screams "NO" at the top of his lungs the immediate response to my stern voice is a heart melting smile and a kiss. Everyone who meets him says the same thing, "He is so naughty, but its hard to get mad because he is so darn cute."

I cannot wait to see what the future holds for my precious #2, I do not doubt that it includes some extremely hard work and diligent prayer for this Mama, but it is oh so worth it!!!

How He Loves-David Crowder (w/ Matt Chandler & John Piper)

2011-10-27T10:07:00.000-05:00

This is an amazing video shared with me by a friend, brings me to tears every time! And while I listened to it for this post, my #1 decided to engage me in a conversation about Jesus and why He loves us and how He lives in our hearts. What an incredible blessing!!! Hope this blesses your day as well!

In Love,

Ninja Mask Tutorial

2011-10-25T09:47:00.000-05:00

It may surprise you, or not, that I refuse to make my kids Halloween costumes. I just know that no matter how much time and effort I put in my super hero will not look as authentic and amazing as the one I buy at Walmart. Like these pretty awesome ninja costumes, I could not make these!

The only problem is that #1's comes with a mask and #2's does not, and that is a problem I can fix!!
Here is my ninja mask tutorial...

First, remember here when I told you about all the black shirts my husband has donated to my stash? Well I just whipped one of those out for this little project
{getting to be creative and recycle, plus its FREE}
I took one of the boys hoodies and lined it up with the bottom of the shirt like so...

Then I decided to scoot it up a bit because I wasn't sure how much I would need to go around his neck {it is a REALLY good thing I did that because I had just enough}

Then I traced it, leaving my self about 1/2 and inch for seam allowance

even though I was using the existing seam at the bottom of the shirt, I still left some space since a ninja hood has to be deep *wink*

I then cut out my hood, but it was still in one piece, connected along the bottom where the side of the shirt was, so I snipped that as well giving me 2 pieces.

Then I put the right sides together and sewed along the curved line of the hood, leaving the bottom open as well as the front.

Then I clipped little triangles out along my curve (make sure you don't snip your seam) so the finished look is smoother

I flipped it around and waited for my little ninja to come home so I could try it on him, and find the best place to attach my snaps and mask.

OK, fine, I was too impatient to wait and I guessed wrong and that is why there are two snaps instead of one, patience is a virtue I need some help with!!

I added actual snaps because I happen to have a snapper-thing-a-ma-do but if you don't you can sew a button or use Velcro, just something for closure.

Next I tried it on my ninja again (for real this time) and measured where the mask should go on both sides

Then I sewed the mask on one side. using an L stitch

And added Velcro to the other side so that the mask can be easily on or off since my 2 year old tends to change his mind as often as my one year old changes her mood {that is another post entirely}

I also made sure that the soft part of the Velcro was on the hood (against his face) and the rough part was on the mask.

Oh!! Where did I get the mask you ask?

From here, the extra part of the shirt, just a rectangle

And the seam of the shirt is the top of the mask, the sides and the bottom tuck into the rest of the hood.

AND we are complete!

Look at my sweet ninja!!!

The hubs was so excited he wants me to make one for him too, I guess I will be trick or treating with a bunch of Ninjas this year!!

BALLOONS!!

2011-10-24T15:37:00.001-05:00

Changing things up a little this Monday, since I am still in the middle of my little ninja mask I thought we would trade todays made with tomorrows tip, whaddya think? CRAZY, I know...

All I am going to say is do yourselves a favor, put down the $7 super hero or the $10 baby doll and grap a $1 pack of balloons for hours and hours and hours of entertainment for your kids...
{and some time to yourself if you need it, but I really enjoyed this too much not to get in on the action!}

Don't you love it?!
Now go buy you some balloons!!!
In Love,

The Scent of Love?

2011-10-21T09:33:00.001-05:00

I have been blessed with a nose that smells ALL things, its quite incredible really. Don't even get me started about when I am pregnant, because then I am in full on super hero smeller territory.

When I was growing up I loved the way my Mom smelled, not her perfume, her. It was the scent of her soul, and if I was a much better writer maybe I could describe it to you, but I can't. I would love to crawl up into her lap and just breath her in, her skin was always so soft and warm, her scent so "mommy," I was always so comforted there. Regardless what was happening in the world around me, she was home. As I got older, of course, my mom began to frown on my curling up in her lap, but I have never stopped wanting to. To this day a hug from my mom can make me come undone.

photo credit

Being pregnant with my first I would dream that he felt the same way for me, as I did for my mom. Would he crawl into my lap and try to burrow in? I could only just wish! I don't think that I will ever know if my kids feel that way about me, my mom is just finding out now on these pages the way her scent had such a profound impact on me. What I do know is this, whether my kids feel this way or not, doesn't matter because it is the way I feel for them.

I could breath my babies in for hours, I could run my hands over their smooth skin and kiss their chubby cheeks and Never. Ever. Stop. I especially love the mornings, when they stumble out of their beds and crawl into mine or meet me on the couch, they curl up next to me and lay completely still as if they know, I just need to get a fix. They smell the sweetest in the mornings, even my 4 year old with his morning breath and sweaty head, they smell the most like their true selves and that to me is the sweetest. Thank you God for my crazy incredible sense of smell, that I can breath in the scents of those I love, that no matter the perfume or the lotion I can breath in their truly sweet souls and cherish them always.

Look at Baby Girl's hair!!! I could just gobble this jammie crew right up!!

What super gift did God give you for better loving those around you? Have you thanked Him for it today?

In Love,

Project Hope

2011-10-18T21:39:00.000-05:00

Lately I have been so overwhelmed with the number of women in my life {both blogging and in person} experiencing the tragedy of miscarriage, still birth, infant deaths, and infertility.
It brings me to my knees.
If you are a women, whether you will admit to this or not, you want to become a mother.
you NEED to become a mother
Some of us need it more than others, but it is there.
Once it enters your heart, it will never leave.
I have been tremendously blessed with my three babies,
The first took a some time {and a lot of prayers and some of tears} to finally come along.
The second arrived sooner than expected {since the first seemed to take forever.}
The third was a surprise, SURPRISE!!!
Now the fourth, that's right I said the fourth, is beginning.
God is just starting to form my fourth little miracle, my fourth blessing.
Right. On. Time.
Just as all my children have been, right on God's perfect timing.
So I am feeling a little sensitive and vulnerable,
I have such an aching in my heart for these women, my friends, experiencing such great loss.
It has moved my soul, to not only be thankful and passionate in prayer for this new life inside of me.
But to do something for those who have experienced such a loss, such grief, that there is no word in the English language to label them by. For those mothers and fathers who lost their babies before they knew them, I am joining up with Laura from Splendor {if you do not read her blog, you need to be} and her Project Hope.
{Project Hope is Laura's addition to the Threads of Love ministry that already provides boxes of handmade love to moms in the hospital who have experienced the loss of their baby}
When these parents receive a box filled with small handmade treasures for their baby and their home, we want the feeling of love from complete strangers to be so thick and heavy it covers them like a blanket through the storm they are experiencing.
If you can help, do it!
Laura is looking for some more folks to help fill the hope boxes and even if you are not super crafty you can donate money directly to help pay for craft supplies and the actual boxes.
Thank you friends, you can and will make a difference in this way.
In Love,

P.S. It's also Worship Wednesday, be sure you grab your tissues...
Held By Natalie Grant

Home Made Carpet Cleaner

2011-10-18T08:56:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a dear friend, I ended up with this book,

Organized Simplicity: a clutter free approach to intentional living by, Tsh Oxenreider.

It is basically, marvelous.

I am not the kind of person who goes all in on advice from one expert or another, I like to blend ideas and make things my own. Since organization has never been a strong suit of mine, I actually use a LOT of the ideas I have found in this book, I will probably end up writing 2 or 3 or 5 blog posts about the awesomeness I have found in these pages.

Today lets talk about carpet.

Having three small children and a hubby who refuses to ever take his shoes off, my carpet pretty much looks like it has been used to cushion the bottom of a coal mine.

We pay to get it cleaned about once a year, but it is pricey! One of the downsides to living in a small town is that there is only 2 places who clean carpet, and they both charge 2-3 times more than your average chain "Stanley Steamer."

I needed to find something to keep my carpet decent in-between big cleanings, and this book has the ingredients for some A-MAZ-ING carpet spot cleaning.

Here is what you need...

Salt, BORAX (which is an incredible product I have found a million uses for) and White Vinegar (also something I use to clean EVERYTHING)

Mix equal parts of all three to create a paste, I start out with about a cup of each and that can get me through most of my house.

Rub the paste in to each stain, and let it sit for a few hours.

{I try to do this on the days we have some place to be, so I rub it in and leave with the kids, then come home and clean it up.}

To clean, scrub with a carpet brush and some warm water, wait for it to dry, and vacuum up any left over residue.

The stuff works miracles, I LOOOOVVEE it, and my carpet is thankful too!

In Love,

Made -- the DIY art gallery

2011-10-17T09:57:00.001-05:00

Well, we are putting our house on the market this week, and as such we have had to pack up LOTS of what has made our house a home. Including all of the kids art work from the fridge, I didn't think much of it really. Unless it has their picture or hand/finger/foot prints on it I generally toss it after a week or two in fridge glory.
{My #1 just started writing his own name and drawing actual people and animals so I have been keeping those too, I just can't get enough of how big he is getting!!}
But then, #1 came home with this...

and #2 came home with this...

and #3 painted this for me with her tiny little fingers at the kitchen table one night...

How do you throw these precious creations right into the trash?
You CAN NOT!
So, I made this...

Now the boys can have their artwork hung proudly (for at least a week or so) AND I can have a clean fridge.

It's nothing really, just some embroidery thread tied to two push pins. I felt like it needed a little something more, something that did not scream "THREAD ON PUSH PINS!"

So I hot glued some of my husbands old micromachine planes on top of the push pins. Now I call this upcycling old junk that just sits in a box because our children are waaayyyy too young to play with micro machines (hello choking!). My hubs claimed it was theft of precious artifacts.
Potato/Potatoe
He did however point out that one of the planes I chose was a "bad guy" WWII plane.
Oops, hopefully he is the only one who examines it that closely
**wink**

Have a Fabulous Monday Friends, I am off to the dentist {pray for me}.
In Love,

If Mama aint happy...

2011-10-13T15:06:00.000-05:00

I always thought that saying was ridiculous, "if Mama aint happy, aint nobody happy," yeah right my new baby and hubby seemed really concerned if I was a grump, NOT.
It was when my littles finally started to communicate with me that I realized how true this statement really is. I will never forget the first time I put my #1 in a time-out and he said, "but Mama, I don't want you to be mad at me, I want you to be happy," talk about a sucker punch!
Ever since that day, nearly a year ago, I have become accutely aware of the effect my mood has on my children, and it is mind blowing!

pic by Aunt Melanie

If one baby does something to make me giggle, they all do it, and they continue doing it until I think there is no possible way I can muster one more giggle and I distract them with something, anything, else.
If I sigh, my sweet perceptive boys will stroke my face and say, "don't be sad Mama, be happy!"
If I give a warning, "ehh-ehh!" the boys will say, "if I do fill in the blank terrible thing it will make you sad at me?"
When my #2 was potty training recently every time he used the potty, he would come out and proudly proclaim, "I made Mama happy, I used the potty!" Not, "I am a big boy, I used the potty!"

I think that this concern my kids have with my mood is God's way of reminding me that every little thing I say and every little thing I do, is being watched and recorded in little minds. I need to remember that words spoken in anger cut much deeper in these new little souls then they would any adult. I need to remember that my children are desperate for my happiness, that right now in this vital impressionable part of their lives, what I say matters to them.

Eventually this open desire for my acceptance and my happiness will disappear in to a cloud of hormones and an outside armor intended to protect themselves from the sting of rejection. But right now, they are raw and wide open, and I need to use these moments to build them up and make them strong. To teach them that they always make me happy just by being themselves, that I love them NO MATTER WHAT. That God created every hair on their head and every quirk in their personality and that they are beautiful and worthy of all good things.

So, next time I find myself wallowing or angry, I need to remind myself, I am being watched, and I am being recorded, and if I cannot find happiness in my situation no one in my family will. It's a struggle, but it's one of the things that we are sanctioned for as mothers. We are blessed with families and children; and it is our responsability to nurture them, to make them feel safe and secure, loved and happy. I know that I cannot do it on my own, I have to turn to The One who created me, who gave these blessings to me, only in God's word and relationship with Him can I be the mother I was called to be, to give my family the happiness it deserves, by finding happiness in all things. It's a challenge, but I think I am up to it.

In Love,

Courageous ~ Casting Crowns

2011-10-11T19:26:00.000-05:00

In honor of the movie "Courageous" that I get to go see with the hubs on Friday. I hope you enjoy this beautiful song and get a chance to see the flick yourself!

In Love,

Anthropologie Inspired Jewelry Tree

2011-10-10T08:04:00.001-05:00

I kind of sort of love Anthropologie, but there is no possible way I could afford a ton of what they have, so I just look through their website and day dream and sometimes get inspired!!

So, I saw this the other day and thought, I can make that!

Not exactly that, because I am not a metal worker (but how cool would that be?!) but I figured I could make something close, and I did!

Isn't she lovely?

Here is how I did it...

The List

branch(s) from tree {it is fall now friends, this part should be easy as pie}
spray paint, any color at all, I considered silver or gold but I thought I wanted my jewelry to make the statement more than the tree. Also, I have envisioned the master bedroom of my new house to have a black, white, and grey color palate.
vase or container of some sort
rocks or other means of holding your branch up-right

The Steps

After you have collected your branch or branches {I cut down 3 from my back yard} you need to spray them your chosen color {I think this would look awesome in a super vibrant color like turquoise too}

Spray at least three times to make sure you are completely covered
Now is the time to play around with your branches to get them to look right, if there are curves face them into the center and intertwine the branches if you want a more modern look, let your branches hang all out for a more nature inspired look, its your little work of art do what feels best!
Once the positions are perfect for you wrap a rubber band around the base to hold it all together.

Now fit the branches into your vase/container, if you don't have enough hight at the base of your branches you can do what I did and shove a peice of fabric in the bottom to make the branch stand up taller.
Fill the container with rocks or foam or whatever you have chosen to stabelize your little "tree"
Now the fun part, drape your jewlery!! I draped pretty much everything I own, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. I only left off my very long or very chunky neckalces {which I have another plan for}

Now stand back and admire your beautiful work and tell your hubby how you saved $100

Here is a little secret...

This is the second "tree" I made, the first used some shorter, thicker, branches from a bush

It still looked pretty awesome, but would be best in a tall and skinny vase or container, not my short square one.

SO, if you want me to send you these branches, because you have the perfect tall beautiful vase for them. Just let me know, and they are yours!

Have a wonderful Monday, I hope you get to make something beautiful.

In Love,

P.S. when I make this again, because let's be honest there is no way this will survive my move, I think I will use a black laquor so it's more shiney and modern looking, what do you think?

Lovies

2011-10-06T18:33:00.000-05:00

Lovies are one of my all time favorite things on this planet!

You know, the things that your kids are head over heels in love with.

Those possessions that are so comforting to your babies you are sometimes a little jealous that you might be second best.

The objects that you NEED to have every night at bedtime, even if it means tearing your house apart brick by brick to find them.

These are my babies lovies, meet...

STINKY

BLANKIE

AND THE SPECIAL CORNER ON BLANKIE FORMALLY REFERRED TO AS GG

PUPA

That's the crew, those lucky little loves that get the pleasure of my babies. They have a big job, they make the scary seem safer, provide warmth and comfort, they love unconditionally, hear secrets and stories. When the world seems too much, these sweets make it all better.
My Favorites this Friday are "the Lovies"
What are some of your favorites?

In Love,

The Time-Out Prayer

2011-10-03T22:28:00.000-05:00

So remember here, when I told you about my new favorite verse and how I have found it so applicable to all of life?

Here is another little gem that I gleaned.

May My Sons think on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of
praise, may he think about these things (Philippians 4:8).

Look Familiar????

I actually got it quite a few months ago when I participated in 21 Days of Prayer for Sons and it was one of the prayers we were meant to say for the hearts of our boys.

On a little side note, "21 Days of Prayer" was AMAZING and if you have sons {no matter what age} I recommend going through this program by Brooke McGlothlin. She rocked my socks off. Brooke uses scripture from the Bible and turns into prayers that you can say on behalf of your sons. Before this I had never attempted to use scripture for prayer {why on earth not is beyond me} but I loved it!

I truly loved it then, and even made a copy of it,
then I made another copy and gave it to my dear friend B.
Later when I read and re-read the Philippians 4, learning about being content, I saw the prayer again and I knew I was meant to be praying this, and praying it often.
So it has turned into our time-out prayer.
When the boys are naughty {12-85 times a day} they sit in a time-out in their room, in order to help them reflect on what they had done, why it was unacceptable, and then they are supposed to apologize and ask forgiveness from me, their victim, and God.
So to help them remember why they are in time out, and what they should be doing there, we say this little prayer together.

I would say I am at a 50% consistency rate, but I am working on it.
Hope this blesses you as it has blessed me!

In Love,

A Top For Me

2011-10-03T09:39:00.002-05:00

So, I am prowling on some fashion websites looking for tops I love but can't afford but could possibly make. Do you do that? Just me?

And I found this

HERE

There were several thoughts going through my head...

*How flattering that would look on my body

*I could never in a million years wear silk or sequins anywhere on any sort of regular basis {how do you even wash that? Do people really buy dry-clean only items and really only dry-clean them?}

*I have the perfect cotton tank in a similar cut

*I think I saw some similar ribbon down at walmart {I live in a small town, no hobby lobby or JoAnns for miles and miles and miles}

Then I ran down to the Wally and picked up some ribbon, completely different, but I kind of fell in love with it.

Simplicity Inspired by Project Runway. **This is the dark brown, I couldn't decide which color I wanted so I bought both, I am sure I will find something to do with this one soon!

And just sewed a piece right down the front of my tank.

Don't forget, if using ribbon, you must seal the edges with a lighter so they don't fray.

So stinkin easy and super cute, especially with a pair of skinny cargos and high heels for a girls night out, or skinny jeans and campaign sandals for church.

I actually made this top a few months ago, but took these pics yesterday, so you can see it held up well in the wash {I also never air dry anything, if you could see the amount of laundry I do you would understand, no clothing gets VIP treatment around here}.

I have been asked once or twice if I "made" this top, and I always giggle when I say yes. Seriously, what did I do? I sewed some ribbon on the front in a straight line. If you have been sewing for one week you can make this top.

Try it out.

If you do, let me know, I would love to see pictures.

<<<<ALSO>>>>>

THE WINNER OF THE BIRD AND NEST NECKLACE IS...

HOLLY Y.
Congratulations!! E-mail me at loveonwings.newberry@gmail.com to claim your prize

{{{{{{ ONE MORE THING }}}}}}}}

What do you think of the new blog design?
Do you love it as much as I do?
Because I really and truly love it!

In Love,

linking this top up at

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The Necklace

2011-09-30T07:49:00.003-05:00

The hubby and I are celebrating 6 years of amazing marriage tomorrow, and look what I found the other day...

It is a broken Mizpah Coin that I bought for us when we moved to our first Base and he started going on missions. The verse engraved in the two hearts is "The Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent one from another." Genesis 1:49

I love how worn his looks compared to mine, it means he wore it always. That little half of coin has seen things the mind can't imagine and been places that I have only dreamed of.
I wore mine all the time too, I lived in it. But apparently take better care of my jewelry than the hubs. These necklaces connected us when we were apart, during that time in our lives we were apart much more than we were ever together.

Finding these necklaces reminds me of what we have been through together, what we have accomplished as one. While we were at our first base my husband went on deployments and missions too numerous to count. Gone more than 200 days a year he would always say, "Amber lives here, I only visit." Before he left on every trip we would slow dance together, then we would pray the verse on our necklace and we would say "see ya later" and never "good bye."

How quickly I have forgotten what that was like. I was NEVER without my phone, in the shower, under my pillow, my phone might as well have been surgically attached. I made it a point to always have a project going on, and I always had plans. Then he would come back and all life outside our little home would stop. Just me and my Hubby, no phone, no work, no friends, just us. Then they would call and he would be off again and life, for me, would resume.

I miss that seclusion we used to have, the time when we shut out the world, we just lie still in our love for each other and the preciousness of every moment, because those moments were fleeting. I am thankful for the experience of that time, God showed us how strong we were as individuals, and how beautiful our love is. I know that someday we will experience that kind of separation again. And it will be completely different, there will be children involved, and who knows how I will handle being a single mom with three babies! But I know that our marriage and our love will survive and be blessed. We will grow stronger and closer not only to one another but to God, for only He can really make the pain and stress of such a separation manageable.

Me and Hubs on our last date night, many many many months ago

But for now, we are together, I get to see my favorite face every day. We get to celebrate this anniversary together and with our three babies and life is good. Those first few years of marriage taught me to remember how precious every moment is, and how deep and passionate love is supposed to feel and be. That time taught me how to depend on God to fill the void inside of me, that God is truly the only man I need, but He blessed me anyway with my incredible husband. I am thankful for all those lessons and I am thankful that I found these necklaces to remind me of what I have been taught.

Have a Fantastic Weekend! And don't forget about the Giveaway for a beautiful custom necklace from TheWordJewlery.

In Love,

Barlow Girl ~ Never Alone

2011-09-28T08:07:00.001-05:00

How many times do we feel this way?

We have to trust in God who loves us and holds us, even when we don't feel Him.

So many women are hurting today, this is for you...

You are never alone

I couldn't decide on which video, so I posted both, hey its my blog!

Hope you enjoyed them.
And don't forget about the awesome jewlery give away, enter here.

In Love,

Potty Training

2011-09-26T21:29:00.001-05:00

**warning: I use the word poop several times in the following post**

Well it's official, I have successfully potty trained two boys and now I only have one in diapers.
I hate potty training, even though both boys took to it very quickly (I am a lucky girl), I just dread it and put it off and whine and cry through the whole process.
There are so many things out there to "help" you potty train
crazy special potties
special underwear
books for the kids
movies (I actually bought this one when training my first)
books for the parents
apparently you need a watch?
Literally the list could go on and on and on and on...

I thought that I would let you know what I have done, what worked for me, and the books I took some pointers from. In the end, every kid is different, and every parent is different, and you just have to do what works for you.
While training #1 I used "Potty Training 1-2-3" by Gary Ezzo, and followed it to the T for the first day and a half, then life happened. I was just entering my second trimester with #3, #2 had just turned 1, and I pretty much half-assed the whole thing. I put him in pullups all the time, and if I forgot to take him every 20 minutes I didn't care because there was nothing to clean up. I learned my lesson there and I put #2 in underwear from the beginning. Definitely more mess to clean up, but we were both more motivated than in my first experience. #1 was also terrified of pooping in the potty, terrified. So every day for a month he would poop in his underwear. NOT AWESOME. He would always come tell me right away so the mess was pretty minimal, but I could not convince him to use the potty. I was also weary of pushing too hard since I had a dear friend who's daughter was so scared of using the potty, for poop, and worried about disappointing her mom that she just held her poop in until it was a medical problem. Finally one day I decided to just watch #1 like a hawk and when I knew he was sneaking away to poop, I scooped him up and put him on that pot, and you know what? Nothing bad happened! From then on he was a full on potty user, he never even needed pullups at night.

With #2, like I mentioned before, I put him in underwear from the beginning and read a little online e-book called "Three Day Potty Training" by Lora Jensen. Now her book is not really for the military wife who has had 3 kids in 3 years, but she makes some good points. I used her system of asking #2 to keep his underwear dry and rewarding him when it was. I did not follow him around all day, he peed all over 2 times, and that was it for day one. Day two we went to church and I left him in his underwear, my hubby thought I was nuts but I was pretty determined he could stay dry, I was wrong. I went in to check on him twice during the hour long service, the first time he had pooped and the second time he had peed all over himself and the chair he was sitting in. Luckily (and strangely) enough I came in to check right after the accidents happened and the teacher didn't even know yet. The next day no accidents, and he woke up that night when he peed in his diaper (yes he is still wearing a diaper at night), yesterday he pooped in the potty for the first time, had no accidents, woke in the middle of the night to pee, and had a dry diaper this morning. Today he had no accidents.

My advice, skip all the stuff. Put you kid in some underwear, let him know what you expect, reward him when he is successful in staying dry and double reward him when he is successful in making it to the potty. Prepare yourself to clean, and clean some more, and make sure you never yell or make your child feel badly. Take advice from fellow moms and some "potty professionals" but ultimately do what feels right to you.

Good Luck My Friends, You Can Do It!!

In Love,

The Halloween Dress

2011-09-26T10:57:00.001-05:00

How I made a Halloween Dress for my sweet #3...

So, I am at Walmart and I come across these Halloween bandannas for $1 each, and I vaguely recall seeing a tutorial on a super easy and quick bandanna dress so I snatched them up.

I love the design, feminine and halloweeny at the same time

So I came home and googled "bandanna dress tutorial" and actually came across a few, but the one I used and the one I remembered seeing was this one from "Trey and Lucy", only I made a few alterations. This tutorial says the dress fits from 12 months to 5t (as a dress and later a shirt) but my #3 is a small 12 months so I had to change some things up a bit...

You need 2 bandannas
Tulle or Ribbon (at least 80" long)
And your trusty sewing machine

First things first you place the bandannas together one on top of the other, there is probably writing on one edge so you need to make sure that the writing edge is the top edge for both pieces. That way it can't be seen in the final product. Then measure from the top (where the writing is, remember), now here I changed the measurement from 6" to 4" for the arm hole. I also chose to use tulle instead of ribbon to tie my dress off so while T&L added and inch and a half (the width of their ribbon) I added one inch (my tulle was 6" wide, but tulle scrunches a ton, and I cut it in half long ways so in the end it was 3" wide). If you are following me, and bravo if you are 'cause I am all over the place, I measured down 5" from the top edge (where the writing is) and marked it with a pin on both left and right sides.

Now start at the bottom (no writing down there) and sew along the edge right up to your pin on both left and right sides.
Good Job!!
Now take the top edge (with the writing) and fold down the width of your ribbon, or in my case one inch for my tulle.

Do this for both the front and back and iron. I always choose to iron instead of pin, mostly because I hate pinning more than I hat ironing.

Did you know I have an awesome hide away ironing board, I kind of love it

Now we sew our tunnels for the ribbon/tulle to go through.

sew as close to the edge as possible

After you have sewn both tunnels (back and front) then you are ready to thread your ribbon/tulle.
My tulle was 6" wide so I measured one length about 40" long and then cut it in half lengthwise giving me 2 3" wide 40" long pieces.

The easiest way to do it is to put a safety pin in one end of the ribbon/tulle and feed it through.

Next step, put it on your favorite little pumpkin! My favorite happens to be at her Mother's Day Out program so you will have to settle for a picture of it on the back of her door. When she gets home though, I will make her do a little modeling for me.

Have Fun!!!
In Love,

P.S. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for this month! It. Is. AWESOME!

Give Away!

2011-09-25T15:56:00.001-05:00

Has it been a month already? Where does the time go?? Last month we had the awesome giveaway of customized baby blocks from the ever so talented Miaboo.

This month we have a gal I am so excited about I almost did this giveaway last week because I couldn't wait to show you!

Meet Stacey...

The incredible designer of The Word Jewelry, she has two crazy babies and just recently started making jewelry, but she is awesome at it! Stacey is a uncompromising worker who will not send a piece off until it is perfection to both her and her customer. Her little shop has taken off and she tells me she thanks God for every sale and every customer she has had the pleasure of serving.

This giveaway is for this little bird necklace, with up to three eggs in the nest...

so beautiful!

perfect gift for some moms I know ;)

These are the colors you can choose from for the eggs (perhaps birthstone colors would be awesome)

And here are some of her other creations that I LOVE!!!

the pea in the pod

faith hope and love

walk by faith

Stacey will personalize anything, and she has had amazing reviews in her shop. If you decide to visit her let her know I sent you :)

Here is how you enter our little giveaway...
#1 become a friend here on the LOW blog (you are already here so that's easy!)
#2 like The Word Jewelry facebook page, and comment here that you did
#3 post a link to this giveaway on your facebook page, and comment here that you did

For every step you take your name will be added to the drawing, so do all three and get your name added three times!!! If you are already a friend of the blog and participate in any of the other steps your name will be added twice :)

Thank you friends and good luck!!
This Give Away will close at midnight on Sunday October 2nd
In Love,

Are you content?

2011-09-23T12:50:00.001-05:00

Here is a little shot of Faith for your Friday, to get you through the weekend.

Are you content?

A verse that I quote most often from the Bible is Philippians 4:13, "I can do everything through Him (Christ Jesus) who gives me strength." It gets me through my day, when my kids are crazy or dinner is burned, the house is a disaster and I forgot peanut butter at the store (forgetting peanut butter in my house is basically unforgivable). I use this verse when my boys are scared or frustrated, I use it for my husband when he comes home stressed out about work. I quote this verse ALL THE TIME!!

But it wasn't until recently during a sermon at Flat Irons Community Church in Colorado, a pastor pointed out the context of that verse. A chapter in the bible that I have read many times but never absorbed fully. Philippians 4 says...

"1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

21 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."

There are so many amazing things in this chapter (including a very special prayer I have been saying with my boys lately, but I will save that for another post) I could probably write a book, well maybe not a book, but several very long blog posts.

The one that jumped out at me then, and now floats around in my mind and spirit on a daily basis is this...
"11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians from a jail cell! But he has learned to be content no matter his circumstances. He is content because he knows his worth, he knows where his strength comes from, and he knows what is waiting for him on the other side of this life. Isn't that awesome?!

My prayer is that I can be content in my life, and that when I feel discouraged or overwhelmed, disappointed or not good enough, I can remember that my strength comes from Christ. I can turn to Him no matter the trouble and rest in the knowledge that His plan for me is bigger than I could ever imagine, and His desire is for me to rest content in His arms.
That is my prayer for you too. If you are reading this I pray that you are content, no matter your circumstances.

We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength, the strength to be content.

In Love,

Hillsong United ~ Always

2011-09-21T11:44:00.002-05:00

I have had this one in my head all week! Enjoy...

In Love,

You know there is a toddler in the house when...

2011-09-20T07:44:00.000-05:00

You know you have a toddler living in your house when...

#5 All the trash cans are sitting on top of furniture instead of underneath it...

office trash can

Kids/guest bathroom. Notice the potty seat on top of the trash can? Guess what we are up to?

our bedroom trash

our bathroom trash

even our poor cat and dog can only eat and drink when toddlers are in bed or out of the house.

#4 Your toilet paper rolls look like this

#3 You can start cooking dinner in a clean kitchen like this

and serve dinner in a kitchen that looks like this

Seriously, she got in the fridge and got out grapes all by herself

And of course he couldn't leave his castle in the playroom, he needed it to be in the kitchen with me!

And here is the final product, after one hour of cooking, ridiculous!

#2 When you look down at any given point during the day you see this

classic

hold me! No, hold ME!

pleeeeaaaassseee hold you?!

If you don't pick me up right now, I am gonna...

unless you need something, then you see this

nope

see ya!

#1 You get lots and lots of these

That kiss hurt my face

Sweet loves for Daddy before he leaves

Made by the Mister

2011-09-19T10:48:00.000-05:00

I know on Mondays I toot my own (very small) horn about things that I have made, but today I am going to ~~toot my hubby's horn~~ show off something my hubby made...

They're Nunchucks!! Isn't he brilliant? The boys have been fairly ninja obsessed lately, so I decided to pull some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles up on Youtube and they took off with it. #1 decided that he was Leonardo and shoved two swords down the back of his shirt...

And since we only have two swords poor #2 was without a weopon, until his Daddy made him these...

Nunchucks, so #2 could be Michaelangelo

(are you impressed with my mad ninja turtle knowledge?)

The Mister grabbed a couple of toilet paper rolls from the craft box and some painters tape from the garage, then he asked me for some rope, I offered some ribbon from my sewing room, and he came out with elastic.

So I guess whatever will work.

He punched a hole all the way through the tubes and threaded the elastic, one large string for both rolls, tied off the ends and taped the middle section of elastic together (see first pic). Then he added some tape to the ends of the tubes for a little more longevity and a pop of color, I love him.

We had a really great time playing with them all day...

He was so excited for his new "chucks"

like the moving boxes in the background, the move is coming people!!

My sweet #3 didn't get any weopons, but I think she needs them most of all!!

Isn't the Mister talented? He is like my own personal McGyver.

Hope you feel inspired!

In Love,

This Morning

2011-09-16T10:03:00.000-05:00

I love mornings like this morning...
#3 woke up super early, but that was great because I pulled her in bed with me and she fell right back to sleep all snuggled up next to me.
Then #2 came in, again climbed up in bed and got all snuggley
Enter our big #1, who never snuggles and is allergic to the morning time;
(literally, every morning he sneezes about a million times and sniffles so loud I worry that the neighbors can hear)
but this morning he climbed in bed too, with no sneezing or sniffling, and cuddled in.
And we all cuddled and snuggled and basked in our love for each other and the amazing blessings and love from our Father in heaven.
And the sweetest part?
It lasted 10 whole minutes
Before #1 started poking #2, and #2 scooted closer to me to get away, but that made #3 jealous so she tried to push him away. #2 thought #3 wanted to play so he started blowing zerberts on her face, which made her laugh/cry (something she is famous for in our house and I am pretty sure she inherited from my BFF Chloe, though I am not sure how that can happen). #1 was feeling left out so he stage dove on top of me and into the fray, and I literally had all 3 kiddos WWF wrestling on top of me and in my face.
Where is my hubby?
He has rolled over and is pretending to sleep, but I can feel him laughing into his pillow.

We are blessed.

Mornings like this morning, make our family what it is, remind me of what our family can and will be, full of LOVE.
Hope you had a wonderful morning and a blessed day!!

In Love,

Lead Me ~ Sanctus Real

2011-09-14T11:22:00.000-05:00

One of my all time favorite songs, it made me weep the firt hundred times I heard it and now I have its lyrics hanging in my house. Enjoy...

The H2O Challenge

2011-09-13T08:34:00.000-05:00

Well, here it is, I am trying to be healthier.

Blah, blah, blah... who doesn't say that. What blogger doesn't at some point blog about being healthier.
I feel like such a cliche
but its true.

I have been complaining for months and months

"my belly is so jiggely."

"my face is so broken out!"

"I AM EXHAUSTED"

etc... etc... etc...

The truth is at one time I was in shape, I actually ran a half marathon. 13.2 miles and I was 8 weeks pregnant!

This is literally the only pic I could find. It's of me and the amazing women I trained and ran with crossing the finish line, in the RAIN!

That was 2 years ago, then the morning sickness and the sheer exhaustion of being pregnant and chasing after a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old took over. I didn't run another step.

My loving Hubby has finally called me out on it and yesterday we ran, and it was pathetic, but we did it. I expected to feel great about it, but instead I felt horrible. I had an excruciating headache and I still feel achy all over. This made me realize I am lacking in a bunch of healthy areas.

But let's just take this one thing at a time...

The H2O Challenge!

Adults are supposed to drink at least 60oz of water a day...

how much to you drink?

I don't drink anywhere near that, which I am positive has something to do with my headache, my adult onset acne, and my blahs. 60oz seems like a TON, who has time to do that? So let's break it up, make it more manageable.

Let's drink 10oz, 6 times a day...

before and after breakfast

before and after lunch

and before and after dinner

10oz is not that much

I measured it out in my trusty Nalgene bottle and then I put it in a couple of my favorite cups so I would have some idea.

So, try it out, let me know. Are you drinking all your water? How has it changed the way you feel or look? I just had my first glass this morning while writing to you all, so now I am off to eat a bagel and have another!

Cheers!

In Love,

Made by me Monday ~ the up-cycled mommy shirt to a toddler dress

2011-09-12T10:41:00.000-05:00

Have you ever noticed that after you have a baby all your pre-pregnancy shirts lose an inch or two in length? Maybe it's just me.
I have a handful of too cute, too short tops that I just can't seem to part with.
So I decided to pass them on to my daughter.
I have only made one so far, but it turned out darling.

The other two are hanging in my closet, taunting me whenever I get ready in the morning (or late afternoon, if we are being honest).
But now that I see how cute they could be on my baby girl, I think it's time to let them go, let them see the light of day again.

How did I do it, you ask...
I used one of #3's dresses to trace a pattern on my old shirt, making sure that I could use the existing neck. I happened to have some red binding left over from an old project that matched perfectly so I used it to finish off the sleeves, and I left the hem raw because it's a knit top which means it won't fray. Sooooo simple I did it during nap time. How's that for some up-cycling, scrap busting, money saving, closet cleaning?

In Love,

Faith for the New Mama

2011-09-09T10:52:00.000-05:00

Whenever I meet or know a new Mama, my heart just goes out to them. The excitement, the crying (for both Mama and Baby), the sleep deprivation, even if its your fourth baby its still the same, total and utter chaos. I just want to hold new moms and whisper, "everything is going to be OK!" My dear dear friend Jessie sent me this text message the other day because she knew I could appreciate it (see this post) and I knew I just had to share it here because there are Mama's out there going threw the same thing, and they need this little nugget of wisdom from God via Miss Jessie...

** A little background, both of our baby girls REFUSED to take bottles or pacifiers or anything to comfort them besides their Mamas. And God revealed a little something about their character to Jessie during her quiet time yesterday.

"Even in infancy our girls show a tenacity for the real thing and will not compromise. Since she has tasted the sweet place flowing with milk. She will not settle for anything less and desires that intimate place even now... she has fought hard to get what she wants. This is a deeper spiritual truth the Lord is revealing... He desires us to come into that intimate place, even fight to get there, and never settle for the world's attempt to recreate what only God Himself intended to give us as nourishment."

Now, this does not mean that if you don't nurse your baby you are a bad mom or not giving them what God intended. Being able to nurse a baby is a blessing that I fully know all mothers do not get to experience and I know that can be a source of great stress and sadness for a new Mama. But what she is saying is that we could take a cue from our Baby Girls who will ONLY take nourishment and comfort from us, not bottles or pacifiers imitations of the real thing. We should look ONLY to God our creater and Father in Heavan to give us nourishment and comfort throughout our day, not to the things of this world that offer an immitation.

Thank you Jessie for allowing me to share this, you are a wonderful friend, and Mama, and I am blessed to know you.

In Love,

Jesus Culture ~ One Thing Remains

2011-09-07T12:11:00.000-05:00

How AWESOME to serve a living GOD who will LOVE me ALWAYS and NO MATTER WHAT!

song: "One Thing Remains"

artist: Jesus Culture

blush

2011-09-06T12:55:00.000-05:00

My little shop was featured on Singing Three Little Birds!!
All about being a WAHM
Check it out HERE :)

In Love,

Eating Out

2011-09-06T10:08:00.000-05:00

Really it's the age old delima, you don't want to cook, you don't want to clean up, you don't want to deal with your kids in a restraunt, what do you do?!

Here is what we did for #1's special birthday dinner a few months ago...

When I asked him what he wanted he said a hotdog, and I know he LOVES a delicious cherry limeaid so Sonic it was... but how to make it special? hummmm.... I know! Let's throw our playroom table in the bed of our pick up and eat our dinner there at Sonic. It was a smashing success. AND the bonus was no cooking, no clean up (besides spraying out the pickup bed), and no trying to keep the kids entertained or quiet at a restraunt. We were just as entertained by the cars driving by on Main Street as they were by us. We got quite a few honks and waves which made my #1 feel very special, like they knew it was his birthday. AND we got free icecream sundays for just being "so darn cute." What a fun time! Go ahead and file this in your mommy catalog under "what to do for dinner, when I am just NOT in the mood!"

In Love,

Made this Mondays

2011-09-05T06:56:00.000-05:00

Happy Labor Day!!! It is finally cooling off where I live, so we will be outside ALL day!

While I am outside I will be sipping on this...

photo by allrecipies.com

delicious, refreshing, peach basil sangria!

I made this recently for a spouse social and a ~~horribly embarrassing~~ funny little story goes along with it...
Apparently in my small town basil is at a premium this time of year because none of the (2) grocery stores had any, but I would not be defeated! I made some calls discovered a gal pal with a herb garden in her back yard, so I hoped on over and broke right in to get me some basil. When I got back there I discovered one of the largest and most impressive herb gardens I have ever seen. I also discovered fairly quickly that non of said herbs where marked, I would say I am fairly herb savvy, but being faced with all those leaves and 115 degrees of sun cooking me where I stood I just started smelling every plant with large flat leaves. I found one that smelled about right, filled up my bag and got back in my car just before I melted to death.

I made the before mentioned delicious sangria, and here is a little tip, use two bottles of wine. I know the recipe calls for one but I tasted it with just one and I am surprised my teeth didn't fall out right there it was sooooooo sweet.

The social was a smashing success and we were all enjoying the delicious peach basil sangria when the girl who's herbs I had borrowed noticed a little something, upon examining the leaf in her glass she let me know that what I had picked was not in fact basil, but sage.

STILL, it was delicious. I think tomorrow I am going to try again with basil, but if for some reason I can't find any I will be using sage.

Let me know if you try it out, and let me know what herb you decide to use. Have a wonderful Labor Day!!

In Love,

Congratulations!

2011-09-04T21:26:00.000-05:00

And the winner is...

Did you know that all great giveaways are done with names on scraps of paper stuck in a Fedora?

Wow, the hubs looked thrilled to be doing such an important job.

Congratulations Erin! I will send Jen your contact info.

Thanks everyone who participated, you are awesome!

In Love,

Friday

2011-09-01T22:46:00.000-05:00

So... here it is, it has happened, we just found out we are on the move again! This is kind of the part I LOVE about the military (isn't that weird) but I have never lived somewhere longer than 5 years and after 3 I get a little stir crazy. I am ready to sell this house, even though I love it and I have cherished memories of all 3 of my babies learning to walk here. I am ready for a new adventure, even though technically I know a LOT of people where we are headed next (not very adventury) and I will really miss the ones we leave behind here. There is a ton of work ahead of me and as such I have to cut a little something down, trim the fat as it were. SOO, Family and Faith Fridays for the next month or so will be Favorite Fridays where I can share some of my favorite things in life.

This Friday my favorite is this fantastic man...

This is how I found my hubs when I came home from running to the store, he was entertaining the kiddos in his "poo rag" and I laughed so hard I almost peed.
I love being married to him
I love that he is the father of my children
and I super love that I get to go on such awesome adventures with him.

Here is to the move, with the loves of my life, keep us in your prayers!

In Love,

P.S. Don't forget the giveaway! Its ending soon, so be sure you enter here, hate to see you miss out on something so cute!

Praying For Rain!

2011-08-31T09:32:00.000-05:00

In the midst of the worst drought this part of the U.S. has seen in 50 years, this is my prayer, God bring the rain, literally!

I wish I could have a recording of a young girl in my church singing this song, she has such a gift to lead in worship I was in tears.

In Love,

"Rain Down" is the second track on the Christian rock band Delirious?'s fifth album, World Service, released in 2003. Written by the band's lead vocalist, Martin Smith and lead guitarist, Stuart Garrard, "Rain Down" reached number 28 on the U.S. charts.

Tips Tuesdays -- Like a good boyscout

2011-08-30T09:27:00.000-05:00

Being a Mama is something like being a boyscout, you must always be prepared!!
Here are the core things that will make your child cranky beyond all belief, make you leave your cart full of food at the grocery store, make you leave your friends houses mortified, make you lock yourself in the bathroom and cry a little bit...

1. If they are hungry, kids are not like adults 3 meals a day can not and will not satisfy them they need to be snacking constantly. Not on junk, on things that are healthy and filling. My kids love craisins, freeze dried fruit like Brothers, yogurt granola bars, TLC fruit bars, Annie's Bunnies, "squishy fruit," nuts, etc... I keep a stash of snacks in the van and in my purse and in their backpacks.

2. If they are thirsty, my kids drink a TON of water all day every day. When they are at Mother's Day Out or Preschool they only get to drink during snack or lunch time so when I pick them up the first thing I do is give them bottles of water, moods are drastically improved by the time we get home :)

3. If they are dirty, that means dirty diapers, wet socks, or muddy hands. You would not like feeling that way and neither do your kiddos. I keep an emergency bag in my car with a change of clothes for everybody and extra diapers.

4. Being too hot or too cold can definitely ruin a good time!I always keep extra jackets in the van (hoodies and sweatshirts) and during weird weather in Spring or Fall I dress us all in layers.

5. If they are bored, kids get board easily and you can't expect them to sit still while you wait on food at the restaurant, you have to give them something to do! I keep a box of toys in my car that is ONLY for the car and for restaurants and wherever else I find that my children are bored to tears. Keeping the toys only for those occasions keeps them fun and exciting, and the best part, they are mostly happy meal toys! The toys that don't really have a spot in your toy room, the toys you are tempted to just throw away, throw them in you car instead and you have instant entertainment.

That's it! 5 ways to be prepared, if you can handle any of these grump inducing problems you can pretty much take your kids anywhere! Unless their sleepy, then your pretty much just plain out of luck :)

In Love,

Made Mondays -- another upcycled mens t-shirt

2011-08-29T11:26:00.000-05:00

Here is a top I made quite a few months back. My husband's uniform has changed and he can't wear just black t-shirts anymore, score for me a plethora of black t-shirts to do with as I please! Here is one that I made into a shirt for me, desperate to hide my post baby belly and live in leggings simultaneously this shirt was born...

obviously my head was not suitable for photographing this day!

Basically I cut the neck out and the hemming of the sleeves off and left them raw, this probably seems just lazy, but really I like the way raw knit just rolls and falls (maybe I like it because I am lazy, who knows?) Then I measured my hips, where the shirt would fall (32" I think), divided that number in half (16") and that is how long I measured for the bottom of the shirt. I centered my 16" along the existing bottom of the shirt (I left that hem alone) and drew a straight line angled up to where the sleeves connected like this...

Then I sewed along that line and cut off the excess shirt. It seemed a little plain so I decided to freezer paper stencil a fleur-de-lis on the side. And now it is my go to favorite, even now that I am mostly back to pre-baby size and no longer obsessed with leggings, it's hip and comfy and makes me feel good. Now go, scavenge your hubby's closets and make something yours.

In Love,

GIVE AWAY

2011-08-27T22:32:00.000-05:00

While perusing on Etsy this month I found some amazing shops that had shockingly little sales, which on one hand makes me feel better about my own little shop because I am not the only one, but it also makes me want to do something to help these fantastic artists out. So I decided that I will try doing some give aways on the blog and see if that doesn't help all of us out a bit. Apparently these give aways will be the last Sunday of the month, because that just so happens to be when I finally got this together *sigh*

Ladies and Gentleman Meet Jen,

A sweet SAHM for her daughter Mia (who just turned one!) she is the brilliance behind Miaboo, a very awesome Etsy shop where she sells wonderfully handcrafted and unique play blocks. I am basically in love with them, I had her make some custom blocks for my sweet #3 and gave her vague (at best) color info. but she nailed it! Here is what Jen says about her shop, "MiaBooo blocks make such unique baby gifts and are so sweet displayed in nurseries. I love the idea of giving a gift that's classic-it will never go out of style and you will never see a set exactly the same! I offer personalization as well as custom ordering. If you don't see a set on my website that exactly matches the color/theme you had in mind, I will work with you! I love custom creations:)"

And here are some of her charming designs...

Jen will be giving away a set of 3 custom blocks.

How on earth can you win some you ask? Here is how...

#1 Visit the Miaboo Facebook Page and "like" it, then leave a comment here telling me you did.

#2 Become a friend of the LOW blog (you are already here, all this takes is a few clicks:)

**If you are already a LOW friend, then you can will be entered 2x if you participate in one of the other steps :)

#3 Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page and include a link, then comment here and let me know that you did.

That is it people, for every step you complete you name will be added to the drawing, so do all three and up your chances!

Help me show some love to a fellow mom and etsy shop CEO :)

This giveaway will run all week long and the winner will be announced next Sunday.

GIVE AWAY CLOSED!

Family Friday -- the cattle drive

2011-08-26T10:04:00.000-05:00

All the kids watching the cowboys and cowgirls get ready!

When I first began blogging and moved from SC to here, one of my first posts was about the cattle drive across base, I could not get over it! This year was our fourth and, more than likely, last cattle drive and I am truly sad about it. Living in this small town has definitely been different, and there are things I have really missed like Target and a grocery selection; but those are things I can find if I am willing to drive for a bit to get them. There are things here that I will miss terribly and I know I can't find them anywhere else, like all of the festivals and carnivals to celebrate anything and everything (even rattlesnakes!) Knowing at least one person everywhere you go, and knowing my children are safe. I will miss our church and our squadron and all of the ways these communities have supported my family, and more importantly my sanity. I will miss this town a lot when we leave, but I am not going to focus on that now, now I will focus on the awesome time we had yesterday...

This is the girl who used to do my hair :)

All the cattle coming in, see how close we were!

This cowboy brought his horse over to see the kids.

This is our pastor! He is holding #2, the only one brave enough to get on a horse :)

They even let him wear a real cowboy hat, he talked about it all day!

I LOVE men in flight suits and cowboy hats rounding up cattle!

We moved to a new spot to watch the actual drive and this is what we saw coming down the street.

Then all the cows took a detour to come visit us, eat some grass, and rub up on some trees.

Not entirely comfortable with how close they were.

Basically holding onto my babies with a "mom grip" like you wouldn't believe.

What a FUN day!!!

In Love,

Worship Wednesday -- Fireflight

2011-08-24T10:32:00.000-05:00

Fireflight: For those who wait...

This is for those who wait

Another day another waiting game
A little different but it's still the same
I am here but where's the one I'm longing for?

I'm having troubles feeling all alone
Will my heart ever find a home?
I want to hope but sometimes I just don't know
I know I'm not the only one

So you sing a lullaby
To the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set your heart on fire
Let it set you free

When you're fighting to believe
In a love that you can't see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait

I want to open up my eyes
I know that all I need is time
I'm growing stronger every single day

God, I'm gonna leave them to You now
Letting go all of my fear and doubt
I can't do this on my own, so I'll give You control
I know I'm not the only one

So you sing a lullaby
To the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set your heart on fire
Let it set you free

When you're fighting to believe
In a love that you can't see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait

The pressure makes us stronger
The struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference

The pressure makes us stronger
The struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference
And the difference makes it worth it

So we sing a lullaby
To the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set your heart on fire
Let it set you free

When you're fighting to believe
In a love that you can't see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait

Let it set your heart on fire
This is for those who wait

Enjoy!

In Love,

Tips Tuesdays -- The third baby

2011-08-23T14:11:00.000-05:00

Having three babies in less than three years is not for everybody, truthfully it's not even for me, but God has much bigger plans than I do! I get a lot of looks when I am out with my brood, mostly looks of pity. I have had more people than I can count say, "well you certainly have your hands full!" to which I used to say "yes, but that is better than empty!" which always makes strangers quiet right down but always made me feel a little snarky even though that's not who I am. A great friend of mine just had her third baby in three years and told me that she has started saying, "yes, but they are full of wonderful things!" which also shuts people up but leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside so that is my new saying.

Having a third baby is the ultimate dealima for a lot of couples, especially if they already have a boy and a girl. So I am asked pretty frequently about the third baby, here are the things I know to be true about third babies (and if you don't believe me you can ask the before mentioned friend who texted me last night to tell me I was right on all accounts).

Nursing a Third Baby is Awesome...
              ** the amount of things that you can accomplish while nursing your new baby will make you feel like you have super powers! I once diapered and dressed my 1.5-year-old while nursing #3, I felt like I was bionic!
            ** while nursing your first born can feel like more of a chore, since you are sequestered away from everyone all of the time. You welcome this break with your third. I would just sit in #3's nursery and rock her and sing and let her nurse for ages while I listened to my hubby out side the door, "#2, leave your diaper on! #1, we don't poke eyes! Boys, no riding on the dog!" I would just grin to myself and keep on rocking.

Three is not much harder than Two, just more time consuming...
           ** it will take you 20 minutes to load your car up, accept it, plan for it, move on. I am ALWAYS the last person to leave the parking lot after Mother's Day Out, I even see some of the teachers leaving before me!
           ** the laundry is unbelievable, literally if I told you how much laundry I do you would not believe me.

Number Three is Always Spoiled...
           ** I don't know how it happens I just know it does.  Maybe the nursing time as mentioned above? Or maybe it's the fact that you are required to hold them much more, for their own safety more than anything. Who knows?!
           **you will do things with your third child that you swore you would never do as a parent, and you probably didn't do with your first two. Case in point; #1 had his first french fry when he was 2, #2 had his first french fry when he was 1.5, and #3 had her first french fry when she was 6 months. It just happens, forgive yourself in advance and you will all be much happier.

Bottom line...
having a third baby just means more
more kisses
more food
more baby giggles
more toys
more love
more playing
more laundry
more pictures
just more, and truthfully I just can't get enough of it.

In Love,

The Blog

2011-08-22T10:36:00.001-05:00

I made a new friend, she is awesome, I asked her about blogging, and she wrote a whole post on it for her blog (it won't be up till later this week), and she sent it to me (getting a blog post early makes me feel a little bit like a rock star). She asked me why I was blogging, who did I want to read my blog and what could they expect to get out of it, and then all the air left my lungs.

I decided to start this blog because I enjoyed my family blog SO MUCH! I had such positive feedback and I felt like I was doing something to help encourage and inspire the moms around me that I knew and loved, which is a task that God has placed on my heart. Since my husband prefers to keep our family blog more private and more focused on our children I felt that I should start a new blog so I could explore every avenue of womanhood. So I could reach out and inspire and encourage, even entertain, moms who only have a minute in their day; who need to sit down and be filled up and leave their computers with a smile, an idea, or even forgiveness. Then I started this silly blog and I became OBSESSED with followers and who was reading it, OK more like who wasn't reading it, other bloggers and what they said or how they wrote and how I should be like them. I lost focus, I forgot that I started this blog because I had friends who liked the way I wrote, and they enjoyed stories about my family and they told me I encouraged or inspired them. How could I forget so quickly?

SO, here is what you can expect from me and this blog...
*Made Mondays -- little projects and how I made them to hopefully inspire your own creative juices

*Tips Tuesdays -- things that I have learned from other Mama's that have helped me in every aspect of motherhood, being a wife, running a home, etc...

*Worship Wednesdays -- I love music, I NEED to have music on my blog

*Family and Faith Fridays -- stories of my family (almost always entertaining with 3 babies around) or stories of faith that I want to share to encourage you

And that is it, I hope I haven't lost you, I hope you are still around, I hope that you will join me, I hope that I am continually in God's will for this season of my life.

AND if you are here from the fabulous follower fest, leave me a comment to let me know you are a new friend and I will follow you back! **YEA**
In Love,

Broken Child

2011-08-20T14:19:00.000-05:00

Now compared to "how I turn old coffee into an iced delight" this is a VERY heavy post, but something heavy just happened to me and I feel the need to share.

Have any of you ever broken your child? I mean just lost your cool and as you yelled watched the light go out of their eyes. If you haven't let this be a precautionary tale, if you have let's share and forgive one another, and let us all get down on our knees in prayer for each other because parenting is hard.

We have been basically trapped in our house all summer because of the unbearable heat outside and the fact we live in a tiny town with no real indoor options for my kids, now we are kind of used to it but this story takes place at the beginning when we were all acting a bit like caged wild animals. A few months ago I was working on the computer, I am a kind of sort of a WAHM trying to help with some bills (that is a whole other story). I was sending an e-mail that was pretty important and I was working on my wording. I had been working for awhile and I could feel my kids getting restless, the playroom was just running out of fun! My oldest, DJ, came up and asked for the millionth time when I was going to be done, and for the millionth time I said "in just a minute" even though it would probably be at least 10 minutes and it had been at least 15 since he started asking. So, to lighten his mood I reached over and gave him a good tickle. "There," I thought, "that should buy me a good couple of minutes," I was wrong. The tickle just made DJ think it was play time, so he tickled me back. I gave him a courtesy giggle and said I really just needed to finish one thing on the computer... so he turned the computer off. All that hard work on my e-mail was gone, he disobeyed a specific rule in our house to never touch the computer tower, and he was giggling about it, and I lost IT.

I turned on my boy so fast I could tell it startled him, but I didn't back down. I wagged my finger and yelled until he was backed against a wall just staring at me, and then I saw the break. All the light and fun he thought he was having was gone, his eyes went dull and he peered toward the ground and my heart snapped in two. What had I just done?! He did not deserve that! No child ever deserves that! What I had done was much worse than any punishment, I broke his spirit. I immediately apologized for yelling and tried to explain my anger was not at DJ, but at what the consequences of his actions were. But it was too late, DJ burst into tears and ran to his room where he sat and rocked himself, he wouldn't let me near him. I sat on the floor next to him, as close as he would let me, and I cried and I prayed. I asked God to forgive me and I asked DJ to forgive me, I promised to try and do better to be better. Then the most amazing thing happened, through all his tears, DJ smiled at me. "Mama, I think this means I give you a time-out," and he was right. I should have taken a "time-out" when I first felt the anger bubbling in my gut, a moment to slow down and realize that what had happened was naughty and perhaps deserved a talk, but certainly it was not the worst thing to ever happen! My work could be done another time, my kids are the ones who needed me right then. I had almost forgotten this very important lesson (though writing about it now brings it back like it was yesterday) until this week. While I was working hard at the computer on my etsy listings, I heard the little voice of my son Asher say "Mama, are you done yet?" and DJ replied, "just make sure you don't touch the computer!"

Heavenly Father, please help me to remember what is truly important in my life, to set my priorities straight. Help me to remember to take time not only for my family but for You who all good things come from. If I keep You in the center than everything else will fall where it should. Thank you for healing the hurt in DJ and thank you that his sweet face and the light in his eyes will always remind me to take a "time-out" when I need it. Amen

In Love,

Coffee

2011-08-17T10:30:00.000-05:00

Hi! I just came back from a looooong vacation with family and got the awesome pleasure of jumping right into the school year (and I came home with an extra little bonus... a cold!) Needless to say things are a bit hectic this week so it was no surprise that this...

My freshly brewed coffee, not quite so fresh 2 hours after I brewed it and completely forgot about it

happened for the third time in a row this week (if you are looking at a calender its Wednesday, so pretty much every morning since Monday). And since I know that I am not the only one this happens to, I thought I would share my remedy.

Delicious iced coffee for my morning AFTER I dropped boys off at school and put baby down for morning nap

There, my once gross chilly black coffee turned delicious iced coffee drink. I really just add ice cubes and some french vanilla coffeemate, but you could add anything...
chocolate syrup and milk for a mocha
caramelor hazelnut syrup and cream for, I don't know, heaven?
or any of the ahhmaazing coffee creamers available now, I cannot wait for the pumpkin spice to come out for fall!
Well there it is, I hope you all enjoy some delicious iced coffee after you pack your kids off to school (or put them down for morning nap.) Especially if you live near me since its 10am and already 90 degrees outside, yeeesh!

Mama Tip -- AKA Choices

2011-08-03T23:12:00.000-05:00

Choices have been on my mind and heart lately. We all have choices like who we love, how we act, how we teach our children, what we make/eat for dinner, you get my drift. I am thinking that once a week I might post on ALL of the choices we make and how they effect different parts of our lives.
Today I am going to post on toddler choices, so it's a twofer, choices + mama tips, yea!!!
If you are/have been/or will be the mama of a toddler you need to know choices are the absolute key. Toddlers and preschoolers are always at the mercy of those around them, told when to eat, what to wear, and who to play with. They NEED choices, they NEED to feel like they can be in control of something. I try to give my kids choices wherever and whenever I can. "It's time to get dressed, do you want to put your shirt on first or your pants?". "It's time for dinner, what color plate do you want?". The simplest questions can take a full blown tantrum from a 10 to a 3. Just the other day my sweet Ash was loosing his mind over having to stop playing and come to the table for dinner, what stopped him in his tracks, I asked what he wanted to drink. It's like a fancy little magic trick you can pull out of your mama hat!!

Is that a Grump or is that a Grump?
Photo By Melanie

You should be warned, however, that the choices you offer need to be actually choices between two acceptable things. I learned the hard way that "you can get dressed or you can go to school in your PJs!" can backfire in terrible ways that leave you explaining to your sons teacher why he is at school in spider man pajamas and several days of explaining to your screaming preschooler why it is NOT acceptable that he goes to school in pajamas all the time.
In Love,

Welcome Fellow MOB's

2011-07-27T18:30:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to be a part of my first blog hop! So excited in fact I started a whole new public blog just for the occasion! OK OK maybe not just for MOB, I have been toying with the idea of taking my more private blog public and being able to post more of the crafty type projects I have been up to and write about all things that I love, not just my sweet babies (though I do love them TONS). So I started this blog and put some of my favorite posts from my old blog to get me started. I look forward to "meeting" you all and reading what you AMAZING MOB's are up to. I know that each of you is so special, God would not have charged you with raising the next generation of Christian Men if He did not know that you were perfect for the job. Let's get to know each other...

My name is Amber and this blog is about the things that I love, my Savior, my Husband, and my Babies. It is also about some of the things that I love to do, sew and paint and craft in general (although I am pretty a novice at all of these). I also love to write especially about being a new mother and Christian to give advice where I can and to glean wisdom from others, I am so thankful that there is a forum for me to do all of these things.

I have 2 boys and 1 girl, my oldest DJ just turned 4 in June, my second Asher is 2.5, and my baby girl turned 1 in May. I LOVE being a Mommy with a capitol L and in fact I think we will be adding to our family here pretty soon.

I have served in Preschool Ministry for the last 8 years in both paid and non paid positions. I have always loved preschool aged children, I love all of the arts and crafts and innocence. I also recently started my own business from home (to help with some Bills) I sew Bible and Nature inspired children's clothing and I would love it if you visited my boutique at http://www.loveonwings.etsy.com/

THE book in our house right now is the "Rhyme Bible" my kids are obsessed and we read it several times a day, the boys even know some stories by heart. This is a MUST HAVE if you have toddlers-preschool age children. A book that I am reading and loving right now is called "1000 Gifts", it is also amazing and life changing just in case any of you Mamas out there are looking for a grown up read.

Here are a few of my favorite posts I thought some MOB would enjoy...
BOYS
The View in My Rearview Mirror

Thank you so much for stopping by, have a great day!!!
In Him,

Super Mommy!

2011-07-23T21:47:00.000-05:00

When you are a parent I think it is truly incredible the roles that you adapt to and become. How awesome that God gives us Grace to be able to do all that parenthood requires of us, He makes us SUPER. I have lately found myself feeling like quite the detective. It even goes beyond discovering where (or who) that funky smell is coming from, beyond telling if a mess could be chocolate or poop by sight alone, it goes beyond...

All summer long Ash has been waking up several times a night, and just recently I think I discovered why, he was cold. Ash was wearing the same summer pajamas as his brother and sister, but DJ insists on sleeping fully covered (even his face) every night under a big blanket and we have closed all the vents in Iz's room because it tends to get freezing when the AC is running; but poor little Ash refuses to use his covers and he sleeps right next to a vent. A few weeks ago I put him in some long feety pajamas and he slept through the night. Score 1.
Lately, DJ is struggling in the preschool program in church. J was called out several times a few weeks ago because DJ was lying under a folding chair and refusing to come out, and then sitting in a corner (arms crossed, grumpy frown and all) refusing to move or participate. That kind of disobedience calls for a punishment, it used to be that if you misbehaved at church you would not get a doughnut (our Sunday ritual). That was until the Sunday DJ said to me, "that's fine mom, I don't want a doughnut any way." I had to sit down and look through everything we did on Sundays, what could be turning DJ into such a monster. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, low blood sugar! When my kids start REALLY acting out I have to run through the check list...

#1 are they hungry

#2 are they sleepy
#3 do they have a dirty diaper or in DJ's case when did he last use the potty. I swear DJ would hold it in until his bladder literally burst if we didn't make him go, and having a super swollen bladder makes him a crazy super grouch!
In this case while every other day of the week my kids eat breakfast, have a mid morning snack, and lunch around 11:30, on Sundays we fed them breakfast and nothing else until lunch around 12:30. No wonder DJ was crabby! We have now implemented snack time in the car on our way to church and a potty break as soon as we arrive. DJ is a different kid in class now, the teacher even used the word amazing where before she had used the word barbaric. Score 2.
Everywhere I go I feel like one of those detectives who rolls into a restaurant and within minutes can tell you the eye color of the waitress and describe the tattoo of the man sitting at the bar. Except I can tell you things like, if the toilet lid was up when I walked by the bathroom, if the glass of milk is about to spill even if I am across the kitchen. When we walk into a new place I instantly know the things that my kids will tear apart, crawl up, and get stuck inside of, so I act accordingly. I wonder how I should use this finely honed skill once my kids get older. Can I use it to tell if they really just went to the movies, or if they really don't have homework. Who knows? But one thing is for sure, nothing is getting by this Mama (OK probably some things, but not a lot of things). I am excited to see what other Super Powers motherhood has in store for me.
source

In Him,

Love On Wings

Desert Song

You Gotta Have Friends

Boho Chic headband tutorial

SO. MUCH. LAUNDRY.

You ARE Outrageously LOVED

New Year New Wardrobe

My 4yo's favorite song

First Time Mommy

Saturday Dance Party

Here is the thing...

Priorities

THREE YEARS OLD

Year End

Mary, Did You Know???

It's a pintrest christmas

Oh Christmas, How I love you!

confession

silhouettes

Warrior Boys

Stellar Kart - You Never Let Go

sick day

Time to Paint Anyone??

Thanksgiving

Flyleaf ~ All Around Me

Mommy S.O.S.

My House

Veterans day

Come thou fount of every blessing ~ David Crowder Band

Disconnected

Three Years Old

How He Loves-David Crowder (w/ Matt Chandler & John Piper)

Ninja Mask Tutorial

BALLOONS!!

The Scent of Love?

Project Hope

Home Made Carpet Cleaner

Made -- the DIY art gallery

If Mama aint happy...

Courageous ~ Casting Crowns

Anthropologie Inspired Jewelry Tree

Lovies

The Time-Out Prayer

A Top For Me

The Necklace

Barlow Girl ~ Never Alone

Potty Training

The Halloween Dress

Give Away!

Are you content?

Hillsong United ~ Always

You know there is a toddler in the house when...

Made by the Mister

This Morning

Lead Me ~ Sanctus Real

The H2O Challenge

Made by me Monday ~ the up-cycled mommy shirt to a toddler dress

Faith for the New Mama

Jesus Culture ~ One Thing Remains

**blush**

Eating Out

Made this Mondays

Congratulations!

Friday

Praying For Rain!

Tips Tuesdays -- Like a good boyscout

Made Mondays -- another upcycled mens t-shirt

GIVE AWAY

Family Friday -- the cattle drive

Worship Wednesday -- Fireflight

Tips Tuesdays -- The third baby

The Blog

Broken Child

Coffee

Mama Tip -- AKA Choices

Welcome Fellow MOB's

Super Mommy!

blush